The Belvedere Villa

The municipal villa, known as the 'Belvedere' for its magnificent view of the Conca d'Oro valley, was described in the mid-16th century by Tommaso Fazello as a 'great amphitheater imagined by nature.' In the 12th century, Guglielmo II d'Altavilla, continuing the construction of grand buildings to glorify the Norman dynasty, decided to erect a large complex on a plateau consisting of a basilica and a Benedictine abbey. Within, the Abbey included the Benedictine garden, located at the southern end of the tower circuit; it represented a place for work and leisure. When the Canons replaced the Benedictines, the garden transformed into the 'Matrice Garden.' Medicinal plants were replaced with trees, and the garden took on a configuration that separated pedestrian paths from cultivated spaces; the ancient Norman enclosing walls were removed, opening up views to the valley below. In the second half of the 18th century, during the Bourbon era, it was used for meetings and important events. In the 19th century, palms and new trees were planted, including beautiful specimens of ficus magnolioides with grand canopies, giving it the current character of a fragrant place of shade and freshness. However, it was with the Unification of Italy that the site took on the appearance we know today.