Former Villa Sottanis (now Municipal Library, Playroom and Auditorium)
Villa Sottanis: The Cultural Heart That Tells a Story
In the heart of Casarza Ligure stands Villa Sottanis, now a multifunctional center and true “palace” of local culture, home to a library, playroom, and auditorium hosting conferences, conventions, performances, and community events; municipally owned since 1974 and managed since 2018 by the Associazione Culturale Lo Stregatto, the villa has become a cornerstone of community life, a place where individual stories intertwine with collective memory and where every event renews the dialogue between past and present.
A Past of Nobility and Civic Commitment
Although archival information is scarce, the building’s structure suggests a possible 17th–18th century origin, and tradition links it to the Famiglia Spinola before it passed in the 19th century to the Sottanis family, among whom stand out Francesco, provost of Casarza in the mid-1800s, and Nicolò, mayor and founder in 1907 of the “Home for Surgical Patients and Convalescents” established in the former spinning mill, shaping a legacy rooted in public service, care, and deep ties to the local community.
Architectural Renewal and Contemporary Identity
Between 2002 and 2008, the villa underwent a complete renovation designed by the studio of Alfonso Femia, which enhanced its square layout and garden while creating spacious, flexible interiors; particularly striking is the staircase shaft with elevator, enclosed by a large glass wall covered in words visible from the outside—a powerful architectural statement that transforms transparency into message and light into narrative.
The “Umberto Fracchia” Library: A Literary Legacy
At the heart of the building lies the library dedicated to writer Umberto Fracchia, buried in the village of Bargone where he also had his home, and enriched by a collection owned by the Università di Genova and entrusted to the municipality at the request of Fracchia’s family, making Villa Sottanis not only a venue for events but also a treasure chest of literary memory and shared knowledge.”
Sources
Geoportale Regione Liguria – Architetture;
Caviola E. (a cura di), “Le nombril des reves”, Ante Prima-AAM-Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo, 2008;
Falzone P., “Valli di Sestri Levante”, Collana Liguria territorio e civiltá, Sagep, Genova 1977;
Tomaini P., “Casarza Ligure notizie storiche”, A.C. Grafiche, Città di Castello 1983;
https://www.atelierfemia.com/it/2008/02/biblioteca-ludoteca-e-auditorium-nella-ex-villa-sottaniscasarza-ligure/;
https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/ArchitecturalOrLandscapeHeritage/0700112575;
https://istruzione.cittametropolitana.genova.it/content/biblioteca-di-casarza-ligure-umberto-fracchia-villa-sottanis-polo-culturale-multifunzionale
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