Doesn’t the name Palazzo Sambuca just roll off the tongue? This late Baroque palace stands here in Palermo’s historic center. More precisely, it is located in the Kalsa district on Via Alloro.
Palazzo Sambuca’s story dates back to 1778. The Bologna family expanded their home. They incorporated the house of the Saladino family. Both families were part of Palermo’s nobility. This radical change included the Maniace Tower of 1039. The tower stood near the Policii gate. Giorgio Maniace, a Byzantine commander, built it. He was a prince and vicar of the Emperor of Constantinople. His descendants married into the family of Frederick II of Swabia.
Giuseppe Beccadelli, Prince of Camporeale and Marquis of Sambuca, wanted this unification. He commissioned Carlo Chenchi. Chenchi was an architect of the senate. The floor plan developed interestingly around two courtyards. A gallery-vestibule connects them. The ground floor was partly used as a riding stable. Groin vaults supported by fourteen columns characterize it. A single-flight staircase leads to the main floor. Walking through Palazzo Sambuca from Via Alloro to Via Riso reveals a series of halls. They are decorated with stuccos and frescoes. In the past, French and Sicilian carpets and furniture adorned them.
Palazzo Sambuca faces three streets. Each facade has a distinct style. The facade on Via Alloro follows a classic 18th-century design with three levels. The ground floor has two main portals. These have polycentric arches and coeval decorations. Eight symmetrical entrances flank the central opening. Above, the main floor windows mirror the ground floor openings. Garlands in the “Marie Antoinette” style adorn these windows. The second-floor windows repeat this motif. The facade on Via Vetriera features a stunning terrace. This terrace overlooks the reception halls with a neoclassical front. Chenchi’s architectural style is evident here. To the left stands the music pavilion. It reflects the Beccadelli family’s cultural interests. Little remains of the hall frescoes. There is no evidence of Olivio Sozzi’s work in the palace.
Palazzo Sambuca suffered severe damage during the bombing of May 9, 1943. The right wing was completely destroyed. The rest of the palace remained in ruins for many years. Despite the damage, Palazzo Sambuca remains a testament to Palermo’s rich history.