The mansions on the Mississippi. A journey into the myth of “Gone with the Wind.”
In Louisiana, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge on the Great River Road, you can find the Mississippi plantations of cotton planters. All facing the river like the Palladian villas along the Brenta Riviera. All white and in Neoclassical style, they are now open for visits, and sometimes you can even spend the night there. This way, you can feel like a planter for a night.
Along the Mississippi
In the state of Louisiana lie the Mississippi plantations, ethereal residences of cotton and sugarcane planters, announced by long avenues of ancient oak trees. Here, where the famous film was set, everything evokes an epic that has never truly faded, and the mansions are the first and most tangible testimony to it.
The Great River Road of the Mississippi Mansions in “Gone with the Wind”
Traveling today along the plantation road that runs alongside the great river is still a pleasure, a continuous discovery of the world that Scarlett O’Hara has immortalized in history. The white and grand facades bear witness to this, with their giant Ionic columns, triangular pediments, and tranquil verandas. Here, the peace is only occasionally disturbed by the creaking of rocking chairs.
The Planters of Louisiana Were the Wealthiest in America
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, they chose Greek classical style as the model for their homes, which is grand and monumental. The style is inspired by the Venetian experiences of Palladio, still evident in the two-story porticoes or the large pediments always facing the river, which until recently was the main route of communication.
The Mansions Feature Timid Victorian References
These are primarily found in the large attics, distinguished by numerous dormer windows. It is certainly a cocktail of styles that characterizes the Mississippi plantations, but it is well blended with the revival of Greek architecture, which plays a fundamental role.
Oaks Dominate the Mississippi
These often lend their names to many mansions and form long avenues connecting the docks to the main residences. Their thick canopies create a rarefied and highly evocative atmosphere, especially in autumn when they produce the characteristic green cascades that have contributed to making the area famous and have always defined its iconography.
