A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored

(Hardback)

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With its sun-drenched sands and Mediterranean waters, Sicily has been a favoured destination of travellers for centuries. History is alive on this island, from ancient accounts of the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans; to the journals of wealthy young European men embarking on the Grand Tour. This book captures the sun-steeped aesthetic of the island, while detailing the restoration of one of its finest attractions: the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace. Marquis de Castelluccio was one of the last "servals" or "leopards" of Sicily wealthy aristocrats who flooded the island with luxury. Following his death, his home fell to ruin. A half-century later, Jean-Louis Remilleux fell in love with this dilapidated 18th-century palace and made it his mission to restore it. Unveiled for the first time in this beautifully illustrated book, the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palazzo is one of the finest testaments to Sicilian architecture and art. Today, lush green palm trees welcome you to the palace's imposing front faade. Frescoes, arabesques, masks, imitation marble, ceilings and wainscoting have all restored to their former glory, over decades of elaborate work. This book charts the restoration process and celebrates the astonishing end results. It contains an album's worth of photographs that capture the beauty of this palace beneath the Mediterranean sun. AUTHOR: Jean-Louis Remilleux is the television producer behind "Secrets d'Histoire", a popular French show that delves into mythical characters from history. He has authored several interview books with figures such as Jacques Vergs and Michel Serrault. In addition to the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace, his passion for art and history has led him to restore the castle of Groussay, in Montfort l'Amaury, and the castle of Digoine, in Burgundy. He is an "Honorary Citizen" of Noto, where the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace is located. SELLING POINTS: . A photographic exploration of a Baroque masterpiece, now returned to its former glory . The stunning restoration of the beautiful Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace in Sicily . Wonderfully evocative and full of beautiful imagery. A treat for lovers of Lampedusa's The Leopard . An inspiring insight into palatial interiors and gardens

Reviews

"A jewel of Baroque architecture, the Castelluccio Palace is the spotlight of a beautiful book retracing its history, its long restoration and its precious ornaments. These photographs reflect the Sicilian Golden Age." - Fanny Guenon des Mesnards, AD France
"This monograph is an invitation to visit thePalazzo Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio." - Italian Vogue
"The three-year restoration of the 18th-century Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace is documented in Remilleuxs new book A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored (ACC Art Books, $55). The majority of the book is devoted to Mattia Aquilas photographs of the lovingly resurrected interiors, architecture and gardens, prefaced by before pictures of the rooms as Remilleux discovered them, still dignified despite their decay." - Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest Middle East
"A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored by Jean-Louis Remilleux (published by ACC Art Books) is a photographic journey documenting the splendour of the palace." - Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes
"In the new photo book "A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored", the French TV producer and presenter opens the gates to his recently completed, dreamlike estate in the small Sicilian town of Noto." - Von Marius Thies, AD Germany
"A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored doesnt just pull back the curtain on the finished palace, it details the four-year-long process through an elaborate array of photos, starting with the installation of the towering palm trees on the palazzos grand entrance that welcome guests." - Architectural Digest

Author Bio

Jean-Louis Remilleux is the television producer behind Secrets dHistoire, a popular French show that delves into mythical characters from history. He has authored several interview books with figures such as Jacques Vergs and Michel Serrault. In addition to the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace, his passion for art and history has led him to restore the castle of Groussay, in Montfort lAmaury, and the castle of Digoine, in Burgundy. He is an Honorary Citizen of Noto, where the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace is located.