In the 18th century, a Chinese emperor arrived by ship from the Far East. He was so captivated by the beauty of Palermo and its surroundings that he immediately ordered the construction of a magnificent palace, following the architectural traditions of his homeland.
This could easily have been the beginning of the story of this peculiar Palermitan palace, but it wasn’t. In reality, it was a royal residence of the Bourbons of the Two Sicilies. King Ferdinand III of Sicily purchased a Chinese-style house and its surrounding lands from Baron Benedetto Lombardo, commissioning the architect Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia to expand it while preserving its Oriental flair.
The result? A completely eclectic palace where pagoda-style roofs and bells (typical of the East) blend seamlessly with Pompeian, Turkish, and even Neoclassical rooms. And what can be said about the ingenious “Mathematical Table” in the dining room? It is best to visit this curious building and see it for yourself. After that, it is undoubtedly worth taking a stroll through the charming Parco della Favorita.
