The smallest house in the world is in Italy and is called Casa del Dispetto (House of Spite)

Italy is home to the world's smallest house, called La casa del Dispetto (The House of Spite), a fascinating construction that is only a few metres in size. What most people are not aware of is that this building was erected by its owner as an insult to his neighbour. Constructed, therefore, not with the best of intentions but which has given today's visitors an extremely special touch in the architecture of the municipality of Petralia Sottana, in the province of Palermo.

The House of Spite

The importance of good neighbourly relations is a well-known fact, as they contribute to harmonious coexistence, while the absence of such relations can cause tensions and clashes. However, what is even more surprising is the possibility that this lack of harmony leads to the construction of a building aimed at covering the view and inflicting spite, as happened in Petralia Sottana, a charming village in the heart of the Madonie Regional Natural Park, in the metropolitan city of Palermo.

The House of Spite, one of the most unique houses in the world, tells a story steeped in rivalry and revenge. Its genesis dates back to the 1950s, when it was customary to raise houses in height in order to obtain new living space, but requiring the authorisation of the neighbours. In this context, a resident of Petralia Sottana, who was denied permission, decided to erect a house only one metre wide, solely to hide the view from the neighbour with whom he was in dispute.

Incredibly, in order to raise his house by one storey, he needed the neighbour's approval, whereas to erect a house between existing properties, it was enough to respect the minimum distance between the two buildings. Thus was born the House of Spite, an extraordinary example of architecture born of conflict.

The dimensions of the world's smallest house

Also known as Casa du Currivu (from the Sicilian word meaning spite), this house in Petralia Sottana in the province of Palermo is one of the narrowest houses in the world, with a maximum width of just over one metre. It is not designed to be lived in, and inside it is cramped even for two people. Nevertheless, its extravagance makes it a destination for numerous visitors each year, attracted by Palermo who deviate their route to admire this unique and unusual construction.

Every year, numerous visitors from Palermo and the surrounding area choose to deviate their route to admire this unique and unusual structure, a symbol of a small revenge that has left an indelible mark on Petralia Sottana's architectural history.

Petralia Sottana as a tourist destination

In addition to Casa del Dispetto, Petralia Sottana is also a municipality worth visiting for other reasons. The town is located in the heart of the Madonie Regional National Park, a mountainous area of Sicily, and is part of the metropolitan city of Palermo. With a population of just over 2,000 inhabitants, the village is known for its medieval charm, cobbled streets and well-preserved historical buildings.

The village of Petralia Sottana has been awarded the Orange Flag, an accolade that attests to the quality of tourist accommodation and the beauty of the area, and boasts churches of great artistic value, with the Basilica dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption being of particular note. The enchanting panorama of the Madonie Mountains adds further charm to this already extremely fascinating area of Italy.