Did you know VII Circoscrizione is the northernmost administrative division of Palermo? It is also the largest. Covering 3295.5 hectares it stretches from Monte Pellegrino to Capo Gallo. It even touches Monte Billiemi a natural border with Torretta.
VII Circoscrizione is not just about mountains. A vast segment of Palermo’s coastline falls within its boundaries. This includes the gulfs of Mondello and Sferracavallo. Plus a good portion of the shoreline at the foot of Monte Pellegrino. Here lie the seaside villages of Arenella Vergine Maria and Addaura.
Prehistoric communities once dwelled in the caves of Monte Pellegrino. Similar tribes inhabited Billiemi and Capo Gallo. These Stone Age people settled in these promontories due to the favorable environment. Later communities moved to the plains. Villages and necropolises have been found in Valdesi and Partanna.
Fishing and agriculture shaped the early economy here. The Piana dei Colli saw agro-pastoral activity dating back to at least the 12th century. Myrtle trees forests and vineyards thrived.
Pirate attacks marked the 15th to 17th centuries. Coastal defense towers were built. The towers protected the area from corsairs. The Piana dei Colli was harder to defend. Fortified buildings called bagli became common.
Security improved in the 18th century. Aristocrats chose the Piana as a suburban retreat. They built noble villas. These villas became centers for growing communities. Pallavicino Partanna and Tommaso Natale owe their names to the dynasties. These dynasties built their vacation properties in these areas.
King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon founded the Real Tenuta della Favorita. This vast reserve at the foot of Monte Pellegrino was used for hunting. It was also used for agricultural experimentation.
The 19th century saw continued expansion northward. Seaside and rural villages were added to the outer urban districts. New neighborhoods were founded in VII Circoscrizione. The Favorita opened to the public. It was used for sports and social events.
Mondello transformed into an elite destination in the early 20th century. A Belgian company developed a luxury resort area. A tram line connected Mondello to Palermo’s center. The new district followed garden city principles. Residential areas were surrounded by greenery. The architecture embraced Art Nouveau style.
The “sack of Palermo” damaged the area in the 1960s. The 1962 master plan degraded the Piana dei Colli. Green space was lost and housing density increased. Old 18th-century suburbs were replaced by modern buildings. ZEN a public housing complex was built. Its isolation led to social problems. The illegal construction on Pizzo Sella became a symbol of corruption.
Today VII Circoscrizione boasts many monuments and interesting places. These include the Ancient Seaside Establishment and the Chinese Palace. Do not miss the Palazzina dei Quattro Pizzi and Villa Igiea. There is much to explore in VII Circoscrizione a blend of history nature and architecture.