Cliff House Project
A Program of Western Neighborhoods Project

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Dolce far Niente

General Gate Parapet Statuary Sutro Residence Conservatory Gazebo Dolce far Niente Outbuildings

 

"Dolce far Niente" is an Italian phrase meaning "It's sweet doing nothing".
This structure was build about 1881 under the direction of Adolph Sutro. 
It survived until the WPA demolished it in 1939.

 



 



California Historical Society Collection


 


Image courtesy of Richard Monaco, grandson of J.B. Monaco
(click here for more Monaco images)

 


ebay image
ebay image

 

 


view from Dolce far Niente, 1905
source: Library of Congress (link)

 

 


ebay image

 


 


"July 30-15"
Image courtesy of Dennis O'Rorke

 


Image courtesy of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival
This image is from the recently discovered silent film titled "San Francisco, The Golden Gate City".  This short stencil colored piece from 1925 was recently uncovered at EYE Filmmuseum in the Netherlands, and SFSFF is restoring the piece in collaboration with EYE! The new restoration will screen at SFSFF2020 in November.


 


"Pt Lobos Ave - Top of Sutro Hts Slide - Looking south  2-24-25"


 

 

- Newspaper Clippings -

 


Colusa Daily Sun - 30 August 1894

 


The San Francisco Examiner - Mar 7 1917

 

 

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