L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano I t m a y l o o k l i k e a fairy tale castle, an e n c h a n t e d h o m e straight out of an old story. It stands 346 meters up on Mount Pelle- grino, the mountain – little m o r e t h a n a h i l l – t h a t a p p e a r s i n n e a r l y e v e r y image of Palermo. Goethe called it "the most beautiful promontory in the world" in his Italian Journey. A Liber- ty-style (Art Nouveau) struc- ture with a neo-Gothic, cas- tle-like profile, it looks out over Palermo with sweeping views of the gulf and the ring of mountains that form the Conca d'Oro. C a v a l i e r e M i c h e l e Utveggio, originally from Calatafimi, bought the land from the City of Palermo in 1927. Work began in 1928 f i n a n c e d e n t i r e l y b y h i m , and finished in just under five years, in 1933. That pace was likely possible because the contractor, Utveggio & Collura, belonged to Utveg- gio himself. The firm had a l r e a d y b u i l t p r o j e c t s i n P a l e r m o , i n c l u d i n g t h e Utveggio cinema-theater in P i a z z a V e r d i a n d P a l a z z o Utveggio on Via XX Settem- bre, and it had the most up- t o - d a t e e q u i p m e n t . P l a n s e v e n c a l l e d f o r a n a e r i a l cable car linking the castle t o t h e c i t y , s t a r t i n g f r o m what is now the Fiera del Mediterraneo fairgrounds. The design was by archi- tect Giovan Battista Santan- gelo, a professor in the Engi- n e e r i n g F a c u l t y a t t h e University of Palermo. He also oversaw the construc- tion of the access road and t h e w a t e r s u p p l y s y s t e m . The castle was inaugurated the following year, in 1934, b u t C a v a l i e r e M i c h e l e Utveggio had died of peri- tonitis in 1933, never seeing the completion of the project in which he had invested not only substantial funds but also great expectations. I t o p e n e d a s a l u x u r y h o t e l , t h e G r a n d H o t e l U t v e g g i o . T h a n k s t o i t s commanding position over the city, it could rival the Florio family's Hotel Villa I g i e a , b u i l t i n 1 9 0 0 a s a tuberculosis sanatorium and later turned into a luxury hotel, as it remains today. Its success was short-lived. By the start of World War II, the business was struggling. It was converted into a casi- n o , b u t t h a t v e n t u r e a l s o failed. During World War II, the c o m p l e x f i r s t s e r v e d a s a base for Fascist anti-aircraft d e f e n s e a n d e v e n h o s t e d King Victor Emmanuel III on a secret visit. From early 1 9 4 1 , i t b e c a m e t h e c o m - mand post for German anti- a i r c r a f t u n i t s . W h e n t h e G e r m a n s w i t h d r e w , U S troops occupied the castle; looting followed, and civil- ians were allowed to strip what was left. It was then abandoned, vandalized, and eventually closed until 1984, when the Sicilian Regional Government purchased and restored it. With support f r o m a p r i v a t e e n t i t y , a m a n a g e m e n t s c h o o l , CERISDI, opened there. The project modernized the inte- r i o r s a n d u p g r a d e d t h e b u i l d i n g s y s t e m s , f r o m plumbing to electrical and IT, turning it into a truly up- to-date facility. In 1988, it became one of the largest r e s e a r c h a n d a d v a n c e d t r a i n i n g c e n t e r s i n t h e region, running courses and master's programs for twen- ty-five years and welcoming many graduates from across the Mediterranean and the Arab world. S e t o n t h e p r o m o n t o r y known as Primo Pizzo, this p i n k l a n d m a r k , c r o w n e d with battlements, is a signa- ture sight for those arriving by sea, framed by the out- line of Mount Pellegrino. Thanks to its position, locals often describe it as a look- out over Palermo. The property stands with- in about seven hectares of p a r k l a n d a n d h a s t h r e e fl oor s. Fr om the gr ound- floor hall, you enter the con- ference room, which seats m o r e t h a n t w o h u n d r e d people; there are additional rooms and facilities, plus a r e s t a u r a n t a n d b a r . T h e c o l o n n a d e a n d b e l v e d e r e offer panoramic views over the city's gulf. The first floor includes two amphitheater- s t y l e c l a s s r o o m s , o n e equipped for videoconfer- encing and another for com- puting. There is also a peri- odicals room and a library with more than six thou - sand volumes, as well as a print center and administra- tive offices. One level up are the exec- u t i v e o f f i c e s , a m e e t i n g room, and other workspaces for the center's activities. T h e t o p , t h i r d f l o o r , t h e g u e s t q u a r t e r s , h a s 2 7 rooms furnished in authen- tic Liberty style. The suite, preserved as it was in 1995, hosted Pope John Paul II during his visit to Palermo. T h e g r o u n d - f l o o r h a l l , with Liberty-style frescoes, w a s o n c e a b a l l r o o m a n d now hosts cultural events and concerts. Furnishings are luxurious and include Persian rugs. The restaurant and bar open onto a loggia with a panoramic view. As with any proper castle, there's a legend: some say mysterious presences roam the halls, switching on lights and making unsettling nois- es on full-moon nights. And w h o k n o w s … p e r h a p s a v i s i t t o t h e S a n c t u a r y o f S a n t a R o s a l i a , P a l e r m o ' s patron saint, at the top of t h e m o u n t a i n m i g h t h e l p keep fears at bay. T h e P a l e r m o - b o r n anthropologist Gian Mauro Sales Pandolfini recalls that "there was even a resident little orchestra that played jazz for guests at dinner, and people came to enjoy a few cool summers, living on the second floor and part of the ground floor." After CERISDI's run, the c a s t l e s p e n t y e a r s a b a n - doned and unused. Now the Regional Government has designated it a presidential site and launched a restora- tion to turn it into a repre- sentative venue. The plan is to make it a conference hub, drawing more national and international visitors to the Palermo metropolitan area. Works include bringing the b u i l d i n g u p t o c u r r e n t codes, replacing obsolete elevators, and installing two new panoramic ones. All technological and IT systems will be renewed to meet the needs of a high- profile center with multiple conference rooms, meeting rooms, and a press room. S e c u r i t y s y s t e m s w i l l b e installed throughout. The suite that hosted Pope John P a u l I I w i l l r e m a i n i n i t s original state. Reopening is scheduled for September. Utveggio: the pink castle on Mount Pellegrino TERESA DI FRESCO Palermo and Mount Pellegrino (Photo: Sean Pavone/Dreamstime) ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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