L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano I s it r eal l y tr ue that clothes do not make t h e m a n , a s a n o l d p r o v e r b s a y s ? W e would not take this s t a t e m e n t f o r g r a n t e d because, based on experi- ences, it is not always possi- ble to distinguish whether the truth corresponds to reality. Often, people are deceived by a p p e a r a n c e s , o n l y t o b e proven wrong after thorough interactions reveal the true nature of a person. However, the case I am about to discuss specifically involves clothes and accessories that have, over centuries, become a liv- i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e identification of clothing with the person. I am referring to two of the oldest noble fami- l i e s i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f Ragusa, namely the Arezzo and Amari families, and it is worth telling a bit about their history. Gabriele Arezzo di Tri- filetti, one of the last heirs of this noble house, was born in 1949 and died in Palermo on March 21, 2021. He curated a collection of about 5,000 c l o t h i n g a n d a c c e s s o r y p i e c e s , r a n g i n g f r o m t h e 1700s to the early 1900s. This collection led to the creation of the Mudeco (Museum of Costume) at Donnafugata C a s t l e , w h i c h h a s b e e n owned by the city of Ragusa since 1982 and subsequently u n d e r w e n t s i g n i f i c a n t restoration. But the story of how this h e r i t a g e e n d e d u p i n t h e hands of Marquis Gabriele Arezzo di Trifiletti is interest- ing. Here it is: In 1984, the marquis's father died, and in dividing the family inheri- tance between him and his brother, preserved between the villa in Marina di Ragusa, La Castellana, and the Castel- lo Vecchio in Ragusa Ibla, it w a s d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e trunks allocated to his broth- er contained silverware and precious objects, while the 408 trunks that came to him were full of clothes and acces- sories. These items were the r e s u l t o f c e n t u r i e s - l o n g preservation efforts by the family. We can imagine the disappointment, especially during a period of crisis in his life: his marriage had fallen apart, and he had only his daughter as a companion, to whom he wanted to ensure at least a serene future. His friends Rosario La Duca and Gaetano Basile— the former a university professor, the lat- ter a journalist, playwright, food and wine expert, and storyteller, both passionate promoters of Sicilian cul- ture—convinced him that he had a treasure in his hands. When they opened the trunks together, they found among the clothes and accessories some that had belonged to Emerico Amari and Franca Florio. The first was a jurist, politician, journalist, econo- m i s t , p h i l o s o p h e r , a n d a leading figure in the liberal political movement during the Italian Risorgimento; the second, known as the "Queen of Palermo," was beloved by the Palermitans, described as U n i q u e a n d D i v i n e b y Gabriele D'Annunzio, and dubbed the Star of Italy by Kaiser Wilhelm II. And not only that: other items also belonged to illustrious and prominent figures. I n t h o s e " p i e c e s " w e r e enclosed four centuries of his family's history, preserved through clothing and a myri- a d o f a c c e s s o r i e s s u c h a s shoes, bags, belts, hats, and fans. This cultural heritage, seen through the lens of cos- tume, reveals the fashion – a way of being, living, and pre- senting oneself – of various eras. Gabriele Arezzo di Tri- filetti, a refined Marquis and gentleman from one of the oldest and noblest families in Sicily, whose coats of arms are displayed in one of the rooms of Donnafugata Castle in Ragusa, dedicated himself to cataloging and completing the collections. He acquired additional clothes and acces- sories at auctions, filling gaps in the collection until it was purchased by the municipali- ty of Ragusa in 2015. Among the "treasures" in the 408 trunks were autographs of famous figures like Albert Einstein, Giacomo Leopardi, Dumas, and Silvio Pellico. Now, and for some time, all this fascinating material h a s b e e n h o u s e d i n t h e Mudeco at Donnafugata Castle. Most of the collec- tion is on display, although some items are stored in the castle's warehouses, making it one of the manor's most intriguing attractions. A care- ful visit can reveal a hidden door leading to one of the castle towers, offering a view of the park, which is the next restoration project for the municipal administration. But surprises don't end there: in its basement, there are tools that testify to the craftsmanship of the artisans who made this place unique in its beauty and a hub of continuous modernization. The castle's location provides a clear view of the surround- ing countryside and land- s c a p e , w i t h r u r a l s c e n e s , carob, and olive trees among rows of dry stone walls. Near the village of Donnafugata, there is a funerary hypogeum that tells of a long human presence in ancient times. Despite its appearance sug- gesting an older date, the castle is actually a late 19th- century residence that once b e l o n g e d t o t h e w e a l t h y Arezzo De Spuches family. With 2,500 square meters of s p l e n d o r , i t s n e o - G o t h i c facade with two towers on either side surprises visitors. The origin of the name Donnafugata has several the- ories. One suggests it derives f r o m t h e f l i g h t o f Q u e e n Bianca of Navarre, widow of King Martin I of Aragon, who was imprisoned by Count B e r n a r d o C a b r e r a , w h o wanted to marry her for the title of king rather than for love. Another theory inter- prets the name as coming f r o m t h e A r a b i c t e r m f o r "source of health," which in Sicilian would be Ronnafua- ta. Yet another theory sug- gests it originates from an episode where a woman was s u f f o c a t e d , h e n c e d o n n a affucata, translating to Don- nafugata. I n s h o r t , l i k e a l l r e s p e c t a b l e c a s t l e s , e v e n without ghost stories, imagi- nation plays a role here, too. As evening falls, one can pic- ture all the lights coming on a n d d a n c e s b e g i n n i n g . Among the guests, all in cos- t u m e , o n e m i g h t i m a g i n e seeing Donna Franca Florio dancing in her splendid black velvet dress depicted by Bol- d i n i , w i t h t h e l o n g p e a r l necklace gifted by her hus- band Ignazio, seeking for- giveness for his constant infi- delities. TERESA DI FRESCO LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE Sicilian heritage through fashion: the Donnafugata Castle exhibit The exterior of the Donnafugata Castle and, bottom left, a costume part of the collection donated by Arezzo di Trifiletti (Photos: Maudanros/Dreamstime)

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