Palazzina dei Quattro Pizzi, Gothic Revival villa in Palermo, Italy.
Palazzina dei Quattro Pizzi is a villa with four pointed towers and Gothic windows set into its white facade. The building displays decorative elements across all outer walls that clearly show its Gothic Revival inspiration.
Carlo Giachery designed the house in 1844 for the wealthy Florio family. The project marked the first major introduction of Gothic Revival style to Palermo.
The villa shows how northern European building styles entered Sicily during the 19th century and mixed with local traditions. You can see in its details how architects of that time tried to blend new forms with familiar building methods.
You can reach the villa most easily by following the coastal road from downtown Palermo to the Arenella neighborhood, where it sits near the shore. It is a good chance to explore the route on foot and get to know the surroundings.
Russian Czar Nicholas I visited the villa and was so impressed that he requested the building plans to construct a replica in Russia. The visit of the powerful ruler brought international attention to the structure.
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