La Postman's House, Massimo Troisi's famous refuge in the cult film inspired by Pablo Neruda, it will not be demolished: this was established by the Administrative Justice Council of the Sicilian Region, which accepted the extraordinary appeal presented by Joseph Cafarella, owner of the property located in Pollara, in the splendid setting of Salina, in the Aeolian Islands.
The City of Malfa had started a procedure to declare the structure partly abusive, following the report of a neighbor who had reported an unauthorized expansion during the renovation works. But for the judges, the villa is not abusive and represents a heritage to be protected, not only for its beauty, but for its cultural value.
In his reasoning, the reporting judge Nino Caleca he underlined the “artistic and landscape interest and the notable public interest” of the house, which became iconic after being chosen as the location for the film "The postman", latest interpretation of Massimo Troisi, nominated for 5 Oscars in 1996. The property is already registered in the Map of Places of Identity and Memory of the Sicilian Region, thanks also to the recognition of the Aeolian Islands including UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The owner Cafarella has always rejected the accusations of abuse and had also put forward the proposal to recognize the property as cultural asset of public interest. “The Postman's House is a unique example of Aeolian architecture, immersed among olive trees and oleanders - has explained - and must be protected so that its artistic, historical and cultural testimony is not lost”.
Article published on 8 April 2025 - 16:51
It is good news that the postman's house will not be demolished, but I wonder why there was such a controversy. The structure has a cultural value that is important to preserve, but there are always problems with renovations.