Once, this land was a duke’s hunting reserve. That is the story of Villa Sperlinga. Imagine a space much larger than what stands before you. Villa Sperlinga began in 1667 as the personal hunting grounds of Giovanni Stefano Oneto. He was the Duke of Sperlinga.
Later, in 1835, Villa Sperlinga became a place for cholera patients. The Senate of Palermo made it a temporary home for the sick. In 1839, Francesco Paolo Gravina, Prince of Palagonia took over. He turned it into a place for the poor. It was called the “Establishment of Mendicancy”.
Around 1880, Joshua Whitaker and his wife Euphrosyne Manuel acquired part of the property. They transformed Villa Sperlinga into a romantic park. They kept some English garden features. Emilio Kuzmann, their gardener, added palms and flowering trees. Roses and orchids decorated the hedges and paths of Villa Sperlinga.
Euphrosyne, nicknamed “Effie,” loved sports and nature. She created a riding arena and tennis courts here at Villa Sperlinga. Effie even had a secret garden. She called it “Paradise.” Only she could enter using a golden key.
Villa Sperlinga was a place for parties. Fulco della Cerda described ladies in pale silks and big hats. Men wore grey suits. Tables overflowed with strawberries and sweets. It seemed enchanting.
After the Whitakers died, their daughter Audrey inherited Villa Sperlinga. A fire destroyed many trees. Audrey sold the land. In 1952, a construction company bought it. They built modern buildings. The city acquired part of the land. This became the public garden we see today.
Today, three sculptures by Vittorio Gentile are placed in Villa Sperlinga. These are “Lovers as Genesis of Vertical Form,” “Hypothesis of Horizontal Form,” and “Great Torso.” Also nearby is the Torre Sperlinga. It is the fifth tallest building in the city.
Villa Sperlinga has changed much over time. But it remains a green space for Palermo.