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"A House in Sicily"

view from the balcony of Casa Cuseni,Taormina

Casa Cuseni is a villa designed and built by Robert Hawthorn Kitson (RHK) in 1905.

The house and gardens offer a harmonious mixture of art nouveau and Sicilian styles. RHK's teacher and friend, Frank Brangwyn, designed the panelling, table, sideboard and chairs and painted a mural in the dining room.

RHK painted watercolours throughout his life. His sketchbooks and a selection of his watercolours have been donated to The Brotherton Library and University Gallery at Leeds University. There are works with the family and a collection at Casa Cuseni. If you are interested in the works, contact Anthea Boylston at boylston@btinternet.com

When RHK died in 1948, his niece, Daphne Phelps, went out to Sicily to sell the house. As she was unable to do so, she decided to stay on and have paying guests.

Daphne told the story of her life in Sicily in "A House in Sicily", which was published by Virago in 1999. "A House in Sicily" has also been published in the USA, China, Turkey, Holland, Italy.

Daphne died peacefully in her own bed at Casa Cuseni on 30th November 2005 - She was 94 years old - It was "Una partenza dolce".

Daphne bequeathed Casa Cuseni to her nephews and nieces who formed the Associazione Culturale Casa Cuseni as a vehicle for its maintenance.

The house and garden are supervised by the Cundari family who live in a house in the grounds.

2008