It began with the restoration of the 18th-century villa owned by the Di Lorenzo family, Barons of Granieri and Marquises of Castelluccio.
1752 – The birth of Villa Favorita: between miracle and Baroque splendor
In the heart of the Noto countryside, on land still marked by the devastating 1693 earthquake, Villa Favorita was born in 1752. Willed by Don Pignatelli Aragona Cortés, Marquis of Avola, the villa was entrusted to Don Fausto Falconara as a reward for his dedication to the noble cause.
Architect Paolo Labisi, a key figure in the reconstruction of the late Baroque Val di Noto, designed the villa as a unique monument to classical elegance. The setting and the light of Sicily serve as a theatrical backdrop. Villa Favorita becomes living testimony and lasting symbol.
Late 1700s – Aristocratic power and Bourbon influence
While Europe faces the first winds of revolution, Sicily remains under Bourbon control. Power lies in the hands of noble families who manage land and people. The villa becomes a symbol of stability and distinction.
Here noble stories intertwine: arranged marriages, family alliances, and a strong sense of identity. Villa Favorita bears witness to a world about to change.
1800–1900
The 19th century is a time of change. After the early 1800s and 1848, and the unification of Italy, Sicily becomes part of a new nation. Large noble estates are sold or transformed. In this new context, Villa Favorita is purchased by the Di Lorenzo family, Barons of Granieri and Marquises of Castelluccio.
Within the walls of Villa Favorita, at the turn of the century, a fully feminine story takes shape. Giulia Dejean, born in 1850 in Noto to a French father shipwrecked on nearby shores, marries Giovanni Di Lorenzo Cannizzaro, Marquis of Castelluccio, as her second husband. The Marquises choose the Falconara estate as their retreat and rename their summer residence “La Favorita”, where they spend the warmest months.
In 1882, they build the adjoining wing, later known as Villa Granieri, expanding the estate and affirming their social role. The surrounding landscape remains agricultural, primarily dedicated to cotton cultivation, but the villa reflects the elegance of an aristocratic world struggling to resist the passing of time. The Marchioness is among the first to plant vineyards in the area and manages all the estates and properties profitably, while her husband prefers to spend his time gambling.
1932–1990
Upon her death in 1932, she bequeaths the villa to her niece Corinda Bona, wife of Enrico Giunta, Baron of San Giacomo. A choice that is not only familial, but cultural — an act of passing down values, identity, and memory.
During World War II, the villa was looted by soldiers and all the Napoleon-style furniture was destroyed. Only two pieces were saved, one of which is still preserved in the hall. The owner, saddened by the fact she could no longer use the house as a summer residence, decided no one would ever enter it again. She had the doors and windows sealed with bricks, completely closing it off. The Allied landing took place right along the coasts between Pachino and Syracuse.
The 20th century brings war, emigration, land reform, and a transformation of Sicilian society. Grand aristocratic residences, like Villa Favorita, seem long destined for oblivion. Yet the villa endures. Silent, still, it continues to guard the memories and traces of past times.
From 1995 to today – A silence spanning decades and a rebirth
After the death of his father Enrico in the late 1990s, Vincenzo Giunta, together with his wife Ada Gulisano, began a meticulous restoration of the now ruined villa under the guidance of architect Salvatore Ferlito. The intervention brought back to light the original structure, materials, and geometries. It was an act of love toward the family heritage, but also a gesture for the cultural legacy of the region.
Today, Villa Favorita is alive, lived in, and loved. It is owned by Corrada Giunta, heir to a long genealogy that has crossed centuries and changes. The villa sits in a context recognized worldwide: the Val di Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of Sicilian Baroque beauty.
Between architecture, landscape, and memory, Villa Favorita continues to tell the story not only of a family, but of an entire region. Its stones, gardens, and halls still speak — to those who know how to listen — with a clear and captivating voice.
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