culture
twelve o’clock, October 12, 2021 – 13:38
For the first time we visit the Corso Vittorio Emanuele construction site
from Roberto Chifari
The FAI Autumn Days are back on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 October, a national event of the Italian Environment Fund now in its tenth edition which will take place simultaneously in 300 cities. On the occasion of this great celebration, the FAI Palermo Delegation led by Sabrina Milone, with her volunteers and in particular with young people, has developed an original and rich program of extraordinary openings. The gem of this Palermo edition is certainly the visit to the building site of Palazzo Ex Ministeri in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, between the former San Giacomo hospital and the Theological Faculty, with the three internal courtyards, the monumental nineteenth-century staircase by the architect Carlo Giachery and the noble floor with its finely frescoed halls. To celebrate the tenth edition of this important national event – says Sabrina Milone, Head of the FAI Palermo Delegation – we have thought of exceptional openings aimed at rediscovering and appreciating the immense historical, artistic and landscape heritage of our beloved city. Unique places such as the Superintendence of the Sea housed in the Palazzetto Mirto and Villa Igiea, emblem of rediscovered beauty, join the narrative of a multicultural capital. We are very proud to announce that we will give visitors the opportunity to access the construction site that is restoring Palazzo Ex Ministeri to its ancient splendor. And the surprises do not end there: at the Arsenal of the Real Marina, where memories of a long naval tradition still echo, we will dedicate to members a tribute to the late Sebastiano Tusa and his collection thanks to the sincere friendship that binds us to the Superintendent of the Sea Valeria Li Vigni. Among the openings there is also a visit to Villa Niscemi with the Royal Stables and the Renzo Barbera stadium, temple of the rosanero football faith. Palermo therefore restarts from beauty – Milone concludes – and from its being a mosaic of culture, beauty, passion, sport, history and nature, many pieces that together combine to tell the splendor of this city. The province’s program will instead be dedicated to outdoor walks with the itineraries of Carini and Isnello.
shadow carousel
Palermo, Fai reopens the Palazzo Ex Ministeri
The palace
Known as the Palazzo dei Ministeri, the property was purchased in 1987 by the Sicilian Regional Assembly in order to house the bibliographic and documentary heritage. The ancient building is of considerable historical and artistic interest, above all for the variety of architectural and decorative elements that have survived to document the transformations that took place from the nineteenth century to the present day. Starting from 1811 its history is intertwined with that of the institutions that represented the government of Sicily and therefore also the history of the changes that from that date until the end of the Second World War determined the change in the political course. Today it is called “Palazzo Ex Ministeri”, because it was the seat, during the Bourbon Kingdom, of the Lieutenant General of the Kingdom, of the Royal Secretariat and of the Ministries of State. Subsequently, after the establishment of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Palace became the seat of the Lieutenant General. The last re-adaptation works that determined the current configuration of the building were designed and built by the architect Carlo Giachery who, in 1850, was commissioned to enlarge and modify the building. The architect was asked to create a vertical connection with the San Giacomo hospital. Giachery has a masterpiece built: an entirely cantilevered staircase that winds concentrically inside a high drum on which a spherical dome is set. The dome ends with a circular eye covered by an iron and glass skylight. Damaged by the earthquake of January 1968, it remained abandoned for about twenty years. In 1993, the consolidation works of the foundations were carried out and archaeological tests were carried out which brought to light a well dating back to medieval times. After 32 years, thanks to the will of the President Gianfranco Miccich and the Secretary General of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, Fabrizio Scim, an important consolidation and definitive restoration work has begun. Guided tours by FAI Palermo volunteers: Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 October from 10 to 17:30.
12 October 2021 | 13:38
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