Villa Giulia, Palermo

The Villa Giulia, or Villa del Popolo, is a park lying to the east of the botannical gardens. The park was commissioned by magistrate D. Antonino La Grua e Talamanca, marquis of Regalmici in 1777 with inspiration from Giovanni Meli. Construction began that year, completing in 1778. It was later enlarged in 1866.

Designed by Nicolò Palma and named after Giulia Guevara, it was Palmero's first public park. The monumental entrance overlooking the Foro Italico is of a neoclassical design. It is permanently closed so cannot be used for access to the garden. The primary entrance, located on Lincoln street, is less developed. At the heart of the villa is the dodecahedron fountain. This consists of a sculpture composed of a dodecahedron shaped marble clock created by the mathematician Lorenzo Federici, each face of the dodecahedron featuring a sundial. This is supported by a statue of Atlas by Ignazio Marabitti, set in the centre of a circular fountain. Decorations surrounding the fountain consist of various metal sculptures. Around the central fountain are four exedra, these were designed by Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda and intended to be used for musical performances. Among the marble sculptures, the most significant one of note is the "Fontana del Genio a Villa Giulia" - the Genius of Palermo which went on to become a symbol of the city, built in 1778 by Ignazio Marabitti.