This volume focuses on the leisure buildings – often called casino, palazotto or Lusthaus – which formed an integral part of princely residential complexes in Europe in the period 1400–1700. The aim of this collection is to study these satellite buildings as counterparts to the main palaces. The relatively small size of these structures belies their importance. They took on representative roles and developed certain ideological programmes that would have been difficult to achieve in the larger residential buildings.

Many of these buildings were meant only for seasonal use. Their primary role was as a place of rest, leisure and repose. This relaxation could either take a contemplative form or could include such vigorous activities as hunting, sports and various court festivities. The case studies presented here illustrate the shared principles of these recreational buildings and investigate how their architects and patrons attempted to realize a ‘paradise on earth’ and managed to bring the human world into harmony with the natural world.

Discussing examples from all over Europe – from Central Europe via Italy and France to Denmark and Scotland – the papers in this volume address four different aspects of ‘palazotto culture’ : the terminology that was used to identify these small palaces, which reflects the wide variety of needs they fulfilled ; the functions and typologies of these buildings ; their artistic decorations ; and their gardens and natural surroundings.

The seventeen papers collected in this volume were first presented at the PALATIUM colloquium Looking for Leisure, held in Prague in June 2014.

Contributors : Marilyn Brown, Marie-Claude Canova-Green, Daria Churkina, Michele Danieli, Krista De Jonge, Sylva Dobalová, Martina Frank, Poul Grinder-Hansen, Jaroslava Hausenblasová, Jan Ivanega, Ondrej Jakubec, Dirk Jacob Jansen, Markus Jeitler, Ulla Kjaer, Wolfgang Lippmann, Sarah Lynch, Martin Mádl, Ivan Muchka, Antonio Russo.

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