Villaggio Normann Belvedere

A space suspended between mountain and sea, above the mines of Monte San Giovanni, facing west over the Golfo del Leone. With no electricity and no phone signal, it invites silence: to sit at sunset, lie down and count stars, or gather for shared rituals. The project reconnects with nature and history, recalling not only the human but also the animal exploitation in mining. Toward the mountain, it features a circular wooden seat resting on metal gabions filled with excavated stones; facing the sea, an equine monument made of seven driftwood trunks evokes the Bosano horse and his seven carts.

For years, the site had been abandoned, used as a landfill and parking lot. Volunteers from the Villaggio Normann Association - already active in organizing cultural initiatives and opening nature trails in the mountains - cleaned it up and returned it to the community. To redesign the space through a collaborative approach, under the curatorship of Giuseppefraugallery, in 2023 they invited Francesco Careri to launch a playful-poetic process of transformation. Hosted in various homes in the village, he listened to local stories and desires for the space. During this creative journey, the old story of the mine horse Bosano resurfaced: known for his strong will, he refused to be shoed and never pulled more than seven wagons, whether full or empty. The miners loved Bosano and had even crafted him a kind of helmet for tunnel work, and screens to shield his eyes when moving from darkness into sunlight. The new Belvedere began walking on the mountain and listening to this story in the space.

Belvedere is part of the local project "Guardians of the Future", and its modest cost of €9,309 was made possible thanks to the skills of volunteers from Villaggio Normann OdV - mainly tireless retired workers, including carpenters, blacksmiths, and engineers - as well as support from public and private entities that provided equipment and materials, and the pro bono work of the architect. Together, they began by marking a circle on the ground with flour and stones, and the project developed without a preconceived design. The goal of minimizing human impact guided the decision to avoid artificial lighting, in order not to disturb bird colonies nesting on the cliffs, and to use only environmentally compatible materials. The site allows access for emergency vehicles, offers a shaded resting point for hikers, and hosts dance, music, and poetry performances. Maintenance is ensured through daily use and care by the same volunteers, who built the space with their own hands during weekends.