“Little House” someone whispered nearby. This is what Casino means in Italian. Welcome to the Casino at Marino. This isn’t a gambling establishment. It’s a small summer or pleasure house. The Casino at Marino is a testament to neoclassical architecture.
James Caulfeild the 1st Earl of Charlemont commissioned it. He wanted a special place on his Marino estate. Sir William Chambers designed this unique building. Construction finished around 1775. Chambers never saw his completed masterpiece. He was always busy in England.
The Casino at Marino is more than just a building. It represents Lord Charlemont’s love for Italy. He spent nine years on a Grand Tour of Italy and Greece. He named his estate after the town of Marino in Lazio. The Casino was the crowning jewel.
What you see now is all that remains of Charlemont’s demesne. There were once extensive gardens. Marino House also stood here but it was demolished in the 1920s. The landscape was once described as a terrestrial paradise.
Look closely at the Casino at Marino. It appears small from the outside. It measures only fifty feet square. But don’t be fooled. It contains sixteen rooms on three floors. It’s an architectural illusion.
Notice the columns surrounding the Casino at Marino. Four of them are hollow. Rainwater drains down through chains inside. The Roman funerary urns on the roof act as chimneys. These clever designs maintain the building’s simple appearance.
Inside the Casino at Marino you will find a basement. It holds the kitchen and other service rooms. The main floor features reception rooms. Servants’ rooms and a State Bedroom occupy the top storey.
The Blue Salon is particularly impressive. It boasts a wooden parquet floor with the Star of David. Stucco work adorns the ceiling. A white marble fireplace adds elegance.
Originally a tunnel connected the Casino at Marino to Marino House. It has since been blocked off. Some say revolutionaries used a tunnel as a shooting range. Michael Collins may have practiced here in the 1920s.
The Casino at Marino faced neglect after the Earldom died out. Thankfully major restoration efforts have preserved it. Today the Casino stands as a neoclassical treasure.
The deceptive design continues to amaze visitors. The large front door appears grand. However only two panels open for entry. The seemingly single windows serve multiple rooms.
Consider the Zodiac Room inside the Casino at Marino. It reflects Caulfeild’s interest in astrology. The symbols and design create a harmonious space.
Though suburban sprawl has changed the views the Casino at Marino remains. It provides a glimpse into the life of an 18th-century Earl. The Casino at Marino invites you to explore its secrets. Each room tells a story. The architecture speaks volumes. It’s a small house with a big history.