Villa delle Ginestre (Torre del Greco)

By Francesca Capano

Villa delle Ginestre has been part of the real estate heritage of the Federico II University since 1962, after various events that had seen it threatened by rampant real estate speculation in an area of great landscape value on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius between Torre del Greco and Torre Annunziata. The name of the villa is clearly derived from the poem La Ginestra, written, along with other compositions, by Giacomo Leopardi when he stayed at the country residence during the time of Diego Ferrigni Pisone. Enrichetta Ranieri (wife of Giuseppe Ferrigni, son of Diego) was the sister of Antonio Ranieri, a friend of Leopardi, with whom the poet spent his Neapolitan sojourn (1833–1837, the year of his death). The two moved to the then Ferrigni villa to escape the cholera epidemic of 1836. The country house is located on the Camaldoli hill; the area, now known as Contrada Leopardi, is characterized by deposits of different lava flows, on which expanses of broom inspired the poet. The original building was constructed by Giuseppe Simioli, a Theology professor at the Neapolitan Seminary. Far from the city noise and in a privileged position to observe Mount Vesuvius, the house was inherited by the Ferrigni family because a Simioli, Margherita, married Diego Ferrigni Pisone. From the Ferrignis, the villa passed through various hands: Lang, Carafa, De Gevardo, and was then acquired by the University of Naples for its great cultural value. The villa was handed over to the Ente per le Ville Vesuviane in 2002, following extensive restoration work carried out by the University and the Superintendent. In 1997, the residence was transferred to the Ente thanks to an agreement between the University, the Ente, and the Municipality of Torre del Greco, making it part of the Golden Mile villas. Today, following a final restoration, the residence has been designated as a museum and a venue for cultural events primarily related to literature and the work of Leopardi. The original 18th-century construction was a "white cube of plaster in the green, dense, and uninterrupted expanse all the way to the distant beach." In 1907, it was inherited by Antonio Carafa, who restored the small residence. A Doric columned portico was added on three sides. However, the works preserved the room that had hosted the poet.

From the volume "Passeggiando per la Federico II" (second updated edition) edited by Alessandro Castagnaro - photographs by Roberto Fellicò - FedOAPress