Villa Bonanno - Palermo

Contrary to what the name indicates, it is not a villa but a city park that was built in 1905 on Piazza della Vittoria. The name was given posthumously in honor of the mayor of Palermo Pietro Bonanno (1863-1905).

During the Spanish rule, the corridas (bullfights) were held here.

In 1868, workers during excavations came across the remains of two Roman villas. One villa dated from the 3rd century and the other from the 2nd century BC, so still in the time of Greater Greece. Archaeologists uncovered mosaic floors in both villas. Some mosaics were broken out and put on display at the Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas. One of them is located under a roof: "Hunting Alexander the Great" . In addition, a Roman cemetery was found where the dead from the earthquake of the year 365 were said to have been buried.

The park has avenues lined with rows of palm trees . The two Roman ruins were incorporated into the park.

The following monuments are located in the Villa Bonanno:

- Bust of Mayor Pietro Bonanno, designed by Ernesto Basile and executed by Domenico Costantino
- Bust of the painter Salvatore Lo Forte (1804-1885)
- A monument in honor of King Philip V of Spain, a 19th century work based on a plan from the 17th century
- A monument to General Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa
- Sculptures by Carlo D'Aprile, Gaspare Guercio and Gaspara Serpotta.

They belonged to three opulent patrician houses: one of them has, under a roof, a mosaic floor with a "hunt for Alexander the Great", framed by a rich frieze with vegetable and animal motifs and picturesque masks. Two other floors found here have been preserved in the Regional Archaeological Museum.
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Willem Vandenameele