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Alessandro Tricarico's short film 'Villa Rosa' highlights abandoned Puglian villa's love story

artist · 2026-04-27

Artist and photographer Alessandro Tricarico has created a short film titled 'Villa Rosa' that documents the abandoned Villa Rosa in Manfredonia, Italy, and recounts the love story of its original owners, Cavalier Vincenzo D'Onofrio and his wife Rosa. D'Onofrio, a pasta entrepreneur, built the villa for Rosa in the 1940s, but she died before its completion. The villa was later requisitioned by Allied forces in 1943, sold, turned into a nursing home, and fell into disrepair. Tricarico's film, a photoromanzo featuring black-and-white photographs, aims to attract a buyer for restoration. The project led to the villa receiving architectural protection in July 2023 from the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio BAT e Foggia, and it is now a candidate for PNRR funding through FAI's 'Luoghi del Cuore' program. Tricarico also self-published a 106-page book on the villa, designed by Margherita Villani with texts by Lorenzo Scaraggi and post-production by Irene Prencipe.

Key facts

  • Alessandro Tricarico created a short film 'Villa Rosa' about the abandoned Villa Rosa in Manfredonia.
  • Villa Rosa was built by Cavalier Vincenzo D'Onofrio for his wife Rosa in the 1940s.
  • Rosa died before the villa's completion; D'Onofrio dedicated a poem to her.
  • In 1943, Allied forces requisitioned the villa, destroying its romantic atmosphere.
  • The villa was later sold, turned into a nursing home, and fell into neglect.
  • The short film is a photoromanzo with black-and-white photos and aerial views.
  • In July 2023, the Soprintendenza placed an architectural constraint on Villa Rosa.
  • The villa is now a candidate for PNRR funding via FAI's 'Luoghi del Cuore' program.
  • Tricarico self-published a 106-page book about Villa Rosa.
  • The film crew included Alberto Mocellin (photography/editing), Giovanni Cascavilla (sound design), and Marco Adabbo (assistant director).

Entities

Artists

  • Alessandro Tricarico
  • Alberto Mocellin
  • Giovanni Cascavilla
  • Marco Adabbo
  • Margherita Villani
  • Lorenzo Scaraggi
  • Irene Prencipe

Institutions

  • Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio BAT e Foggia
  • FAI
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Manfredonia
  • Foggia
  • Puglia
  • Gargano
  • Italy

Sources