Liberty Style Architecture
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 20 October 2023
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Established around the end of the 19th century and reaching its peak in the early twentieth century, Liberty Style architecture was Italy's version of the popular Art Nouveau which emerged slightly earlier. Unlike the Italian Architectural styles that came before it, Liberty had a much greater focus on secular rather than religious buildings, finding its footing in tourist resorts and cities alike.
Major cities where the Liberty style prevails include Milan, Turin and Palermo, but it those cases it can be quite sporadic and among a number of other styles. In spa and seaside resorts however it enjoys a much higher profile with towns such as Montecatini Terme, Viareggio and Sanremo almost an homage to the style. |
Salsomaggiore Terme, Emilia Romagna
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Related links
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Time period:
1895 - 1914 Preceded by: Italian Neoclassical architecture Followed by: Italian Fascist architecture, Art Deco Characteristics/innovations: Lavish exteriors, balconies, natural shapes |
Famous buildings in Italy:
Villino Florio (Palermo), Mondello Pier, Casino di Sanremo Influences: Italian Baroque architecture, Art Nouveau Locations: Palermo, Turin, Milan, Viareggio, Sanremo, San Pellegrino Terme Famous architects: Ernesto Basile, Giuseppe Sommaruga |
The Liberty Style era
With its origins in the French Belle Epoque of the late 19th century, Art Nouveau established itself as the principal artistic movement in the western world and gave birth to its Italian cousin: Liberty Style. It takes its name from the department store in London and can be seen not just in architecture, but in furniture, art and other artistic forms.
The 1902 Turin Exposition, fully-titled Prima Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Decorativa Moderna, was one of the key events of the Liberty style movement with artists from across the world flocking to the city to display their work. Sharing similarities with the Art Nouveau already flourishing in other parts of the world, it was one of the forerunners to the Art Deco style that arrived in the 1920's.
Inspired by natural shapes, highly decorative with lavish ornamentation, it was also known in Italy at Stile Floreale or Floral Style. One of the effects of hosting the 1902 exposition was that Turin became one of the key locations of the Liberty Style movement with buildings ranging from shopping centres to factories.
It is perhaps though the advent of international tourism during the same era that gave Liberty Style its biggest boost and left its greatest legacy. Famous Italian spa towns such as San Pellegrino Terme, Salsomaggiore Terme and Montecatini Terme provide something of a permanent exhibition to Liberty Style architecture while the same can be said of certain seaside resorts such as Viareggio in Tuscany and Sanremo in Liguria whose Casino is one of the most representative examples.
Further examples of Liberty Style can be found at the Sicilian seaside resort of Mondello, particularly with its bright yellow pier, and at Santa Cesarea Terme in Puglia whose Villa Sticchi comes under a slightly different category of Moresque Style buy nonetheless displays a number of Liberty features,
With its origins in the French Belle Epoque of the late 19th century, Art Nouveau established itself as the principal artistic movement in the western world and gave birth to its Italian cousin: Liberty Style. It takes its name from the department store in London and can be seen not just in architecture, but in furniture, art and other artistic forms.
The 1902 Turin Exposition, fully-titled Prima Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Decorativa Moderna, was one of the key events of the Liberty style movement with artists from across the world flocking to the city to display their work. Sharing similarities with the Art Nouveau already flourishing in other parts of the world, it was one of the forerunners to the Art Deco style that arrived in the 1920's.
Inspired by natural shapes, highly decorative with lavish ornamentation, it was also known in Italy at Stile Floreale or Floral Style. One of the effects of hosting the 1902 exposition was that Turin became one of the key locations of the Liberty Style movement with buildings ranging from shopping centres to factories.
It is perhaps though the advent of international tourism during the same era that gave Liberty Style its biggest boost and left its greatest legacy. Famous Italian spa towns such as San Pellegrino Terme, Salsomaggiore Terme and Montecatini Terme provide something of a permanent exhibition to Liberty Style architecture while the same can be said of certain seaside resorts such as Viareggio in Tuscany and Sanremo in Liguria whose Casino is one of the most representative examples.
Further examples of Liberty Style can be found at the Sicilian seaside resort of Mondello, particularly with its bright yellow pier, and at Santa Cesarea Terme in Puglia whose Villa Sticchi comes under a slightly different category of Moresque Style buy nonetheless displays a number of Liberty features,
Italian towns and cities where Liberty Style architecture can be found
Milan
Casa Galimberti
Casa Guazzoni
Palazzo Castiglioni
Montecatini Terme
Grand Hotel Plaza
Mondello
Mondello Pier
Palermo
Villa Fiorino
Salsomaggiore Terme
Terme Berzieri
San Pellegrino Terme
Casino Municipale
Grand Hotel
Sanremo
Casino di Sanremo
Santa Cesarea Terme
Villa Raffaella
Villa Sticchi (Moresque Style)
Turin
Casa Fenoglio-Lafleur
Galleria San Federico
Viareggio
Gran Caffè Margherita
Villa Argentina
Casa Galimberti
Casa Guazzoni
Palazzo Castiglioni
Montecatini Terme
Grand Hotel Plaza
Mondello
Mondello Pier
Palermo
Villa Fiorino
Salsomaggiore Terme
Terme Berzieri
San Pellegrino Terme
Casino Municipale
Grand Hotel
Sanremo
Casino di Sanremo
Santa Cesarea Terme
Villa Raffaella
Villa Sticchi (Moresque Style)
Turin
Casa Fenoglio-Lafleur
Galleria San Federico
Viareggio
Gran Caffè Margherita
Villa Argentina
