Public Welcome Inside the Historic Caetani House for the First Time

After 30 years, the Caetani Centre is ready to open its doors to the public. The 126-year-old home, once belonging to the aristocratic Caetani family, will offer tours starting in July.The historic house and grounds are home to several historical artifacts and treasures belonging to the Caetani family, including Sveva Caetani’s Recapitulation painting series recently returned by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in Edmonton. The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives and the Kelowna Heritage Museum have also returned stored items to the house to be used in the display.“The Caetani family has a long and fascinating history. They were one of the most important families in Italy since the middle ages. I can’t wait to take visitors through their stories and end with Sveva’s powerful paintings,” says Caetani Centre programs director Gabriel Newman, who is creating the tours and was recently presented with the Innovation Award from the BC Historical Federation for his Loneliest Interpreter video series at the O’Keefe Ranch. During the tours, individuals can expect a deeper understanding of the complex Recapitulation series, containing more than 50 large-scale dream-like watercolour pieces that resemble stages of Sveva’s fascinating life story. In addition, the tours tell the story of the historic family’s journey from Italy to Canada and their mysterious lives throughout the years.“We are very excited to finally be open for tours to the public for the first time,” said Susan Brandoli, Caetani Centre executive director. “We are looking forward to sharing the history of the house and artwork with the community and give individuals, for the first time, the opportunity to come inside and tour the house.” Tours will be offered July 2 to Aug. 28 every Thursday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. No tours will be offered on Saturday, Aug 7, due to the outdoor Caetani Music Festival. Tours last an hour with an additional hour to look around. Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for those 18 and under.For more information and to book a tour, please visit www.ticketseller.ca