Sicily has long drawn kings and queens to its shores, so much so that many felt compelled to leave a trace of their stay, or more often, their extended presence. Among them was Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, who became Ferdinand III, King of the Two Sicilies. In the late 1700s, fleeing unrest in Naples, he relocated to Palermo.

There, he commissioned several projects, including the Palazzina Cinese, a small palace whose distinct and charming Oriental style gave it its name. But Ferdinand didn’t stop there. Enchanted by the serene landscape, rich woodlands, and abundant wildlife of Ficuzza – where he would live for three years – he commissioned a grand Casina di Caccia, or hunting lodge.