Photo: Caetani Cultural Centre

The Caetani Cultural Centre will be showing home movies of the family next month.

It is one of the best-known families in Vernon, and one of the most tragic.

The Caetanis were a prominent Vernon family, descendants of Italian royalty who relocated to the Valley in the early 1900s.

And next month the Caetani Cultural Centre will be showing home movies of the family.

Leaving Italy abruptly and under somewhat mysterious circumstances, the small family arrived on the shores of Okanagan Landing by paddlewheel with 33 trunks in tow. There, they would live a life of wealth, privilege, travel and luxury throughout the Roaring Twenties until the economic crash of 1929 decimated their fortunes.

Sveva Caetani represented the last of an ancient line that traces its roots back more than 1,000 years and includes two medieval popes and noted politicians, academics, artists, writers, and musicians.

But following the death of her father, Leone, Sveva became a virtual prisoner in her East Hill home for 25 years by her mother, Ofelia.

Upon her passing, Sveva donated the house that would become known as the Caetani Cultural Centre.

And when the centre opens to the public in July, home movies featuring the Caetani family will be shown.

A home-movie on the centre's Facebook page shows footage of Sveva and Leone as he leaves for a trip.