Palazzo Chiaramonte
The Palazzo Chiaramonte, also called " Lo Steri ", is a palace in Palermo. Located just south of the harbor of La Cala and the church of Santa Maria della Catena in Piazza Marina. The palace was built in the 14th century by the aristocratic Sicilian family Chiaramonte. He is an excellent example of the late Gothic style of the 14th century in Sicily, which is called after him as Chiaramonte style.
History
Giovanni Chiaramonte, the old man bought a large tract of land in 1306 and commissioned the building of the palace in order. 1320 the palace was completed up to the first floor. Further work on the building were the orders of Manfred II and Manfred III. executed. For example, the archway on the first floor was built by Manfred II and the beautiful wooden ceiling of the hall on the orders of Baron Manfred III. built. The ceiling was in fact completed in just three years from 1377 to 1380 by Sicilian artists. The three painters were Cecco from Naro, Simone from Corleone and Darenu from Palermo.
The wooden ceiling is also called the medieval encyclopedia, because it tells stories from the Old Testament, as Susanne, Salomon or Judith, parts of Tristan and Isolde, there are hunting scenes, the struggle between Christians and Muslims, fantastic characters, the half-man, half- animal, are busts of noble women, and jousting tournaments, geometric motifs and floreale and coat of arms of noble families. The last room, the Sala delle Capriate, on the top floor remained unfinished as Andrea Chiaramonte, the last of the family, was executed on June 1, 1392, as he was rebellious against the new king. Thus, the palace fell into the hands of the Aragonese king Martin I, who died in 1409, leaving his father as Martin II took the throne and the " Palazzo Chiaramonte " made her the royal residence and the Royal Court.
1446 joined The Chiaramonte Palace then his name in Steri, from the Latin Hosterium, the fortress palace. 1517 then held the offices of the duty their collection and it started the first conversion work. For example, the building was provided with additional inputs and windows. 1598 Royal Court was moved after a fire in the Norman Palace and three years later, in 1601, the palace was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition Court. There are still graffiti and the prisoners this time in the rooms of the palace writings. 1782 the court was on the orders of the viceroy Caracciolo dissolved and the palace was until 1799 a refuge for the poor. Between 1800 and 1958, the offices of the court of Palermo were on the upper floors housed on the ground floor and the back offices of the duty. Then the building was acquired by the University and restored, so that it now serves as the Rector of the University.
Description
The massive construction with a side length of 40 m with its four wings enclosing a square courtyard. Particularly interesting are the double and triple window with arcades, whose decoration coined the term Chiaramonte style. In the Sala Magna, the main hall, a wooden ceiling from the 14th century has been preserved with elaborate paintings and inlaid patterns.
Pictures
Graffiti
Patio
Wooden ceiling upstairs