A true icon of French song for almost four decades, Dalida is still in the hearts of many French people, almost 40 years after her death. During her life, the Italian artist, naturalized French, naturally moved to Corsica, where she owned a villa. A place less loaded with importance than her house in Montmartre, but where she was happy.
Dalida: Villa San Giorgio, its superb refuge on the Isle of Beauty
Far from the spotlight, the crowds and the media whirlwind that her visits usually attracted, Dalida had an oasis of tranquility in Corsica: a vacation home just for her, her loved ones and her friends. Perched at the end of a path in one of the most popular areas of Corsica, the Villa San Giorgioon the heights of the Marina di Fiori estate in Porto-Vecchio, embodied this dream of a Mediterranean haven of peace. Built in the 1970s at the request of the singer, this property extends over 540 m² distributed between the main house and its annexes — guest house and caretaker’s house — for a total of approximately twelve bedrooms and ten bathrooms.
Dalida came there every summer to “ disconnect “. It was an intimate refuge, far from the stage, the fame, and the pressure of show-biz. Asked by TV magazineRosy Gigliotti, cousin and secretary of Dalida, remembers: “ We were in another world, in a little paradise. We didn’t talk about work, it was forbidden. » This is where she found her loved ones, sharing simple moments consisting of games of poker, rummy or scrabble, but also swimming and relaxation. The terraces of the property overlooked view of the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio. For the record, the star herself drew the plans for her villa, seeking comfort, light and privacy, while preserving a bohemian and Mediterranean spirit.
What Dalida’s villa has become
After Dalida’s disappearance, the villa changed hands. In 2011, it was put up for sale by his heirs, with an estimated price of around 5 million euros. The announcement published at the time specifies that the property, still made up of its three buildings, then offered its potential buyer the possibility of accessing the clubhouse of the Marina di Fiori estate and benefiting from an exceptional living environment – we are talking here about tennis courts, access to a small private port, and a breathtaking view of the sea.
Although the villa has probably been renovated or redecorated since the time of the singer who died in 1987, it remains the palpable testimony of an era, of a life, of a dream. For lovers of heritage, music or simply beautiful residences with discreet charm, San Giorgio remains one of the most evocative star residences in Corsica.