Overview
Villa Signorini, included in the list of Vesuvian villas in 1971, is located on the border between the municipalities of Herculaneum and Portici along Via Roma, formerly Via Cecere, which in ancient times led from the town centre towards the sea. This is the famous Miglio D'Oro (Golden Mile), a road that was originally a mile long, in the section formerly called Strada Regia per le Calabrie (Royal Road to Calabrie), built in the 18th century by nobility.
The aristocratic mansion is surrounded by a large garden, one of the few to have survived intact to the present day, divided into three parts: a decorative central garden and two lateral ones, former agricultural appurtenances. The spectacular Villa is overlooked by Vesuvius and the Royal Palace of Portici and surrounded by historic and scenic beauty spots, such as the Portici Woods and the Herculaneum excavations in front of it.
The original Villa was built in the mid-18th century. In 1903, Paolo Signorini bought it to make it his home, making structural changes that are still visible today. The mansion was inhabited until 1980 and then sold by the heirs of the first owner; after restoration, the company that manages it transformed it into a facility for cultural events, shows, parties and ceremonies and into a prestigious and luxurious hotel. Many architectural elements, such as floors and frescoes, are the original ones; the Italian garden is characterised by its citrus groves and exotic tree species. It is the ideal place to experience a cross-section of southern Italian art and landscape.
