Casa Belvedere is a cultural center devoted to Italian studies, located at 79 Howard Avenue, Grymes Hill, Staten Island, New York City. The

mansion A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word ''mansio'' "dwelling", an abstract noun derived from the verb ''manere'' "to dwell". The English word '' manse'' originally defined a property l ...

was constructed in 1908, and is an Italian Renaissance style building with

Arts and Crafts A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft or handmade, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and decorative objects are made completely by one’s hand or by using only simple, non-automated re ...

detailing. It is a -story,

stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...

ed masonry structure with a -story service wing and attached conservatory. It features an overhanging clay tile hipped roof with bracketed eaves and a

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...

with

Ionic order The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite or ...

columns and Doric order corner piers. Also on the property is a contributing former garage. ''Note:'' This includes ''See also:'' Over the years it housed a number of different families, including for several years being the official residence of the President of Wagner College. It was declared a New York City Landmark in 2006 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 as the Louis A. and Laura Stirn House. In 2008 it was purchased by Gina Biancardi and Luciano Rammairone, and turned into a cultural center. In this role it hosts Italian language classes for both adults and children, wine tastings, lectures, films, cooking lessons, book signings, displays of Italian-made motor vehicles (e.g. Alfa Romeo,

Lamborghini Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. () is an Italian brand and manufacturer of luxury sports cars and SUVs based in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The company is owned by the Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary Audi. Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916–1993) ...

, and Vespa), and art exhibits, all with an Italian orientation.

Sources

Staten Island Advance The ''Staten Island Advance'' is a daily newspaper published in the borough of Staten Island in New York City. The only daily newspaper published in the borough, and the only major daily paper focused on a borough, it covers news of local and ...

'', September 19, 2010, pages 1 and 6, with photos.

External links

The Italian Foundation at Casa Belvedere
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Staten Island Renaissance Revival architecture in New York City Houses completed in 1908 Museums established in 2008 Italian-American culture in New York City Italian-American museums Museums in Staten Island 2008 establishments in New York City New York City Designated Landmarks in Staten Island Grymes Hill, Staten Island {{StatenIsland-NRHP-stub