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Casa Cuseni House, built in the early ‘900, stands in Taormina, close to the Rock of Casteltauro. Built by the English painter Robert Hawthorn Kitson, this Villa and its garden have been declared an Italian National Monument for their high historical and artistic value, thanks to the work of Kitson himself and his niece, the English writer Daphne Phelps.

The access gate leads directly to an area featuring steps, terraces, fountains and other architectural elements such as the “basin of papyrus” (Cyperus papyrus) in the entrance courtyard, and the noble staircase leading to the main terrace.

The garden, which offers great views of Mount Etna and the Bay of Naxos, is the oldest and best-preserved in town. Divided into terraces, it shows interesting architectural details designed by Kitson, a member of the Society of British Artists, and other artists who frequently visited Casa Cuseni: there are, for instance, the seven fountains perfectly aligned with the central fireplace of the Villa – underlining the relationship between water and fire, and the main pool, the first built in Taormina and aligned with the central crater of Mount Etna.

Some of the original plants, introduced by Kitson, are still growing in the garden, such as citrus and fruit trees, bougainvillaea, wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), jasmine, iris, vines and roses. Kitson also restored the ancient Greek wells to collect rainwater and feed a large cistern built under the front terrace and the pergola: a very ingenious way to provide irrigation to the garden.
After Kitson’s demise, his niece Daphne took care of this beautiful green space and kept it very well alive. Working with the Cavaliere Allegra nursery in Catania, she introduced some native plant species resistant to extreme heat and built an educational botanical garden.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)