The Marquis Corrado Tedeschi
Marquis Corrado Tedeschi stands out in the city's history as a figure of rare foresight and generosity, an enlightened nobleman who literally shaped the face of Pozzallo. Since the 1920s, he held key roles, first as Prefectural Commissioner and then as first Podestà, before concluding his public activity, retiring in 1956, as Councilor. In this long period, the Marquis was not a simple politician, but an active administrator and patron of public affairs, contributing significantly to the development of the city.
His initiatives strengthened the basic infrastructure, such as the expansion of the municipal cemetery and the strengthening of the aqueduct linked to the Favara spring, as well as the strengthening of the stone pier in front of the Cabrera Tower. But it is in urban planning that his most lasting imprint is recognised: in fact, the impulse for the construction of Piazza Rimembranza, the Town Hall with its square in front and the surrounding Villa Comunale is linked to his name. These works, which today characterize the very image of Pozzallo, were built between the end of the 1920s and the early 1930s on land owned by him, donated to the Municipality.
This extraordinary dedication is today celebrated above all through his splendid Villa in the Scaro district. Purchased by the Municipality in the 1970s and recently renovated, the Villa houses the new municipal library and is preparing to dedicate an entire museum gallery to its main floor. The rediscovery of this structure, unique in its history and beauty, turns the spotlight back on the Marquis, whose grace and discretion as a noble lord have translated into a concrete and relevant public commitment over time. Fifty years after his death, the objective is to worthily honor the memory of this crucial figure, to whom the modern structure of Pozzallo is undoubtedly indebted.
The Artist Carmelo Lorefice and the Iconic Project
The idea of ​​paying homage to the Marquis Corrado Tedeschi with a lively and significant sculptural presence materializes in the project of creating a full-figure bronze statue, a natural-scale work destined to find a place inside Villa Tedeschi, the setting most familiar to him. This ambitious project aims to create an icon that is not a cold monument, but one that offers the "natural sensation of meeting and getting to know" the man who gave so much to the city.
The interpreter of this vision is the sculptor Carmelo Lorefice, an artist from Pozzallo with a solid and complete academic education. His sculpture studies, which began at the Art Institute of Syracuse and continued at the Brera Academy in Milan and Palermo, led him to compare himself with the masters of the subject, assimilating fundamental lessons from Medardo Rosso (for the waxed glazes), Francesco Somaini (for the soft and sinuous lines) and Auguste Rodin (for the plasticity).
A teacher of plastic disciplines, Lorefice has developed a sculptural language which, from the first investigations into human "traces" in nature, has reached a professional maturity focused on what "nature imposes on man". Despite the evolution of his research, the artist has already demonstrated a profound sensitivity for portraiture and civic memory, as evidenced by his previous public works. His mastery of the plastic medium and bronze makes him the ideal figure to capture not only the physical features of the Marquis, but also his characteristic attitude, translating into material the affection and foresight that guided Tedeschi's work. The statue will be the focal point of the project, making the historical memory a living sculptural presence and accessible to all those who visit his Villa.
