Photos

During the reign of Ferdinando IV of Bourbon (approx. second half of XVIII century) the small lagunas and reservoirs along the coast north of Naples, begun to be used for mussels and oysters cultures. On one of those small lakes (Lago Fusaro), the architect Carlo Vanvitelli, son of Luigi Vanvitelli, was commisioned with the building of a small hunting and fishing pavilion. On the pre-existing islet, Vanvitelli based his building on some already lying ruins, ending up with a most delicate polygonal structure on two levels, connected to the shore by an elegant arching bridge.

The place, though it was used for all kind of activities besides hunting, has not been regularly inhabited. However, many illustrious guests have spent at least a couple of nights in this enchanting place. Among the most famous: the Austrian emperor Franz-Jozef II and the Prince of Metternich, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gioacchino Rossini, the Russian Czar Peter, the Italian king Vittorio Emanuele III and the Italian President Luigi Einaudi, who was considered the first "final" president of the Italian Republic (the very first one being Enrico De Nicola, who was appointed as Provisionary President).

If on one hand the building is seen as a piece of the highest development in baroque art, many art historians take it as an example of the "swan song" of rococo style.

PP: levels adjusted in PS7 and sharpened in NeatImage.