Villa Kathrine

George Metz was a young man of some means from Quincy who, around the turn of the twentieth century, set off on extended travels through Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. He was captivated by the architecture he encountered there, the arches, courtyards, tilework, and cool interiors of Moorish and Mediterranean building, so different from the brick and clapboard of his Illinois hometown.

When Metz returned to Quincy, he resolved to build a home in that exotic style on the bluff above the Mississippi. He worked with an architect to translate his inspirations into a villa of horseshoe arches, a central courtyard with a reflecting pool, and details echoing the palaces and villas he had admired abroad. He named the completed house Villa Kathrine for his mother, and it became a singular landmark on the Quincy waterfront.

Villa Kathrine's design sets it apart from every other building in the region. Its white walls, arched openings, and enclosed courtyard evoke the architecture of Morocco and Moorish Spain, and features such as the reflecting pool and shaded interior spaces recall the cool, inward-facing homes of hot Mediterranean lands. The effect on an Illinois river bluff is startling and delightful.

The villa was said to have been home to Metz and, at times, an exotic household including a large dog, adding to the air of romance and mystery that has always surrounded the place. Over the years the building passed through periods of neglect and was nearly lost, but preservation efforts saved and restored it, and it now stands as a cherished and carefully maintained Quincy treasure.

Today Villa Kathrine serves as a Mississippi River visitor center, welcoming travelers who come to admire its architecture and learn its story. From its bluff-top perch it offers commanding views of the Mississippi and the Great River Road, and it makes a fine introduction to Quincy and the surrounding river country for those passing through.

Visitors can explore the courtyards and rooms, take in the details Metz brought back from his travels, and enjoy the river panorama that first drew him to build here. As both an architectural curiosity and a river overlook, the villa rewards a focused visit and often surprises travelers who had no idea such a building existed in western Illinois.

Villa Kathrine is a highlight, but Quincy as a whole is a treat for lovers of architecture. The city prospered in the nineteenth century as a river port and manufacturing center, and its wealth left behind a remarkable collection of historic homes and buildings in a range of styles, from Greek Revival and Italianate to Queen Anne and beyond, concentrated in well-preserved historic districts.

A visit to the villa pairs naturally with a wander through Quincy's historic neighborhoods and its riverfront. Set on the Mississippi along the Great River Road, the city offers river views, architectural richness, and, in the exotic villa on its bluff, one of the most unexpected and memorable buildings in the entire state.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.