Feudo Principi di Butera

The history of the Feudo Principi di Butera is fundamentally connected to the noble, millennium long history of Sicily, ancient Trinacria, which thanks to its geographical position was the crossroads of Mediterranean civilisation.

The name Butera appears to have its origins in Re Bute, the first king of the Siculi, who along with the Sicani and Grek colonisers, inhabited the strategically important southern central region of Sicily which acted as the border between the three civilisations.

Saracen occupation of the island started in 854 AD and continued until their expulsion in 1089 at the hands of the Norman Roger of Altavilla. The history of the principality was then characterised by three great families in succession: the Santapau, the Bracinforte and the Lanza.

The Santapau held the Feudo Principi di Butera for two centuries before ceding it to the Bracinforte, a noble family originally from the Piacenza region. In 1543 King Philip of Spain then nominated Ambrogio Bracinforte as Lord of Feudo Principi di Butera, which remained the most important noble title in Sicily up until the 19th century. The Bracinforte dynasty became one of the most powerful in the history of Sicily and it is estimated that at the turn of the 18th century they owned what amounted to about ten percent of the entire island’s income.

The Bracinforte dynasty came to an end with marriage of Stefania Bracinforte to Guiseppe Lanza, whose union brought together into one family dozens of titles, hundreds of manor houses, thousands of hectares of land and unbound riches. In 1895 the Lanza heir was also awarded the title of Prince of Deliella.

In the previous century, the Italian Royal Family of Savoia had founded the Principality of Deliella, on the very lands which today represent the borders of the Feudo Principi di Butera

The ancient Baglio (fortified manor house) of the Feudo Principi di Butera, having been completely restored with great attention being paid to its ancient structures, has come back to life and the intense ochre colours of its walls are even more striking when they meet the incredible blues and greens of the surrounding Sicily.

The Zonin family has thus also taken on the role of custodian of the territory, convinced that they have a definite responsibility to care for and highlight the history, architecture and landscape of the island.