Palazzo Ajutamicristo

The Palazzo Aiutamicristo ( German: Help me, Christ ) is a palace of the 15th century in Palermo. It is located in Kalsa quarter of the old city of Palermo in the immediate vicinity of the church of La Magione. The entrance is on the Via Garibaldi.

History

The building was constructed in 1490 on behalf of originating from Pisa merchant and barons of the countries of Calatafimi and Misilmeri Guglielmo Aiutamicristo. The contract was awarded to the architect Matteo Carnilivari, who had also carried out the construction of the Palazzo Abatellis and the church of Santa Maria della Catena in the same neighborhood. Already in 1494 the building was extended and the end of the 16th century architecturally redesigned again. The Aiutamicristo family lived here during the period 1490-1501.

Over the centuries resided here many well-known personalities including Joan of Naples ( wife of Don Ferrante of Naples ) at the beginning of the 16th century, Emperor Charles V (1535 ), Muley Hassan, King of Tunisia ( 1544) and Juan de Austria ( 1576 ). Here was the seat of the Academy of Cavalry of the Viceroy Garcia di Toledo. From 1588, rented the Palazzo Margherita Aiutamicristo Moncada di Paternò to the prince, who eventually kaufte.Heute is it the palace belonging to the barons Calefati and Canaloti.

The building

The main entrance on Via Garibaldi leads to a courtyard with a two-storey loggia. While the sheets are solid and wide on the first level, the second level shows stylistic elements of Catalan Gothic. On the third level there is a battlement with window-like openings. In the courtyard of a magnificent garden is laid out with the fountain Cavallo Marino sculptor Ignazio Marabitti. The sculpture was erected in 1864 on the Piazza Santo Spirito in Palermo.

The main facade is adorned with balconies in the Baroque style. Is located on the left side of the building, the old entrance portal with a family crest. At the back of Palazzo another great garden was created, which is now destroyed.

In the second half of the 18th century commissioned the owner of the palace, Don Aloisio Moncada, Prince of Paternò the architect Nicolò Anito and Andrea Gigante with the renovation of the interiors, whose first section was implemented between 1764-1768. Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia continued to work from 1773 onwards. Around 1780 the Neapolitan quadrature painter Benedetto Cotardi and the painter Giuseppe Crestadoro were commissioned to provide these rooms with frescoes. In erected by Andrea Gigante ballroom overlooks the ceiling fresco " The glory of virtuous princes " of Crestadoro out.