www.corfilac.it

The Structure

In the 1864, the manufacture of the masseria began. It was commanded to local skilled people by the Garofalo's family that dwelled here until 1870. Built as a summer residence, the masseria was devoted to manage all the surrounding land and patrimony.

The building was composed by a central structure, subdivided in two levels, and by two lower parts on the sides. Buildings on the sides were warehouses for corn and wheat storage. Besides, these lateral spaces were used as barns. Usually the masseria was dwelled from June to November.

The great grandfather, lawyer Francesco Garofalo, designed the building made with limy stones pulled out from the same field in which it is settled today. Oriented according to the cardinal points, the building has balconies, terraces and loopholes in "a bocca di lupo" style. This style helped owners to protect themselves and their patrimony against bandits assaults because they could shoot robbers without being seen.

The central part of the building was filled of furniture of the 16th and 17th century. In the 18th century, furniture was stolen along with a limy coat of arms. Agricultural equipment was donated to Antonio Uccello that still today is preserving this equipment in a museum located in Palazzolo Acreide, a place belonging to Siracusa province.

In 1997, the estate was sold to the municipal district of Ragusa. In March 2002, it was assigned to the CoRFiLaC. Today, the masseria is a symbol of the rural contemporary architecture. It is the fulcrum of the research activity on the dairy chain of Ragusa developed by the Consortium.