Villa Zingali Tetto

Villa Zingali Tetto is a building located in Catania, north of Via Etnea. It was designed in 1930 by the architect Paolo Lanzerotti, commissioned by the lawyer Paolo Zingali Tetto, who desired a residence in the city's suburban area where many upper-middle-class families resided at the time.

The villa is one of the most sublime examples of Art Nouveau (Liberty style) architecture in Catania. Its design saw contributions from renowned artists and craftsmen of the period, including Gaetano D’Emanuele, who executed the exquisite floors and ceilings, and Salvatore Gregoretti, who created the stained-glass windows of the Winter Garden.

Passing through the building's entrance hall and climbing the villa's grand staircase, in whose well resides one of the first examples of a mechanical elevator, you reach the main floor. From a spacious entrance hall, you find yourself facing the Ballroom, a ceremonial space where the walls and ceilings are enriched with decorative motifs and frescoes typical of the era's style.

The subsequent rooms are dedicated to the exhibition of original drawings and blueprints by the Catanese architect Francesco Fichera, who, along with Lanzerotti, was one of the leading figures of Liberty in Catania.

Moving through the enfilade, you enter the study of the lawyer Zingali Tetto, which still preserves the original desk and a period fireplace, followed by the dining room, featuring wood boiserie that seamlessly integrates with the sideboards. In the center sits a large table dominated by the original chandelier and a coffered ceiling. Next is the marvelous Winter Garden, with polychrome stained-glass windows featuring naturalist motifs in shades of green, blue, and red. At the far end are the private quarters, with ceilings frescoed in naturalist and geometric faux-mosaic patterns.

Finally, the villa's outdoor areas are laid out as an Italian-style garden, featuring elements of a romantic garden such as an ornamental pond and an artificial cave with hydrophilic plants and stone benches. A portion of the citrus grove still exists, complete with the saie used for watering the terraced plots.