Villa Saint-Jacques à Luri en Haute-corse

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The villa Saint-Jacques is a house of notable so-called "d" Americans, type of dwelling characteristic of Cap Corse. These houses were built in the 19th century by capcorsine families who had returned to Latin America or North America, where they had flourished. Their ostentatious architecture, often neo-classical as here, displayed economic and social success, while marking their new status in the local hierarchy. The villa takes over the Tuscan model, with a symmetrical facade adorned with alternating frontons (ringed and triangular), painted denticles, and mouldings surrounding the bays.

The interior distribution highlights a monumental staircase, whose cage is entirely decorated with paintings. These decorations, attributed to the artists Paul-Baptiste Profizi and Gaetano Léoni, underline the fascist sought by the sponsor. The building, raised on two more high levels, thus embodies the social ascent of the Capcorsins back home, while integrating Italian aesthetic codes dear to the region.

Protected since 2014 for its facades, roofs and stairwells, the villa bears witness to this migratory phenomenon and its impact on the island's architectural landscape. Its inscription in the Historic Monuments devotes its heritage value, both historical, social and artistic.

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