Asmundo di Gisira is located in an 18th century palace, in one of the four corners of Mazzini Square, near the Cathedral of Catania.
The aim of the Studio Gum was the redevelopment and the transformation from noble residence to a special tourist accomodation, whose concept inspired by the myths and legends of the city of Catania is described through a mixture of architecture, design and memory that makes the user immerse in an authentic experience.
The common areas, the reception, the breakfast room, a lounge bar and the central courtyard are inspired by the legend of Billonia, a young and beautiful florist. Here everything symbolizes the relationship between the young woman and the gardens, starting with the painting by the Catania painter Sergio Fiorentino, the decorations on the walls of the Swedish artist Daniel Egnéus or the work of Rossana Taormina from Palermo for the lounge bar. The six rooms with bathroom, distributed around the courtyard, today closed by a skylight, are the background to the legends of Proserpina, Colapesce, Uzeta, Eliodoro, Aci and Galatea and of Agata, patron saint of the city of Catania. Many of the finishes are the product of the collaboration between the designers and the many creatives who participated in the project, such as the ceramist from Caltagirone Alessandro Iudici who made most of the coatings designed for the various environments. Wherever possible, the old decorated cement floors have been reused, replaced to form new decorations.
Photography : Filippo Bamberghi
