“Villa di Donato is located in the sixteenth-century Piazza Sant’Eframo Vecchio, near the Capuchin convent and the adjoining Catacombs, in an ancient part of Naples that lies behind the Albergo dei Poveri and the Royal Botanical Gardens. The entrance, which opens onto the courtyard, is adjacent to the coach house where some ancient marbles, found during the restoration of the garden, have been inserted as traces of memories past. A double flight staircase leads to the main floor, where the large hall and the lounges preserve the atmosphere of that time intact. The frescoes from the period of Ferdinand IV – well preserved and never restored – evoke scenes of hunting and rural life, portraying the ancient inhabitants of the house, and the artisans and designers who built the Villa. The house, which remained uninhabited for about thirty years after the death of the Marquise Maria, has only recently recovered its original characteristic of a family residence. “(FAI – Italian Environment Fund)
“The owners themselves faced the challenge of conservative restoration, tracing the guidelines for the intervention through family memories and documents. Their purpose was to keep the identity of the house intact, aided by the unity of the architectural system which has not undergone significant changes over time. The recent restoration work has allowed the entire complex to be restored to its true character as a place of recreation, reconfirming its original purpose, as evidenced by the inscription in the winter garden which traces the names of the noble ladies who contributed to making this dwelling always more pleasant. ”
(Repubblica.it)