Once a lavish private residence now stands Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja. This Renaissance-style palace has witnessed Palermo’s transformations for centuries. Let’s delve into its history. It is located on Via Bara dell’Olivella in Palermo.
In the 1500s Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja was built for the Branciforte and Lanza family. They were powerful Sicilian aristocrats. By the 18th century the Branciforte di Butera family inherited it.
But in 1801 they ceded Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja to the Senate of Palermo. The Senate transformed it into the Monte di Santa Rosalia. This was a home for Palermo’s indigent people. It functioned as a pawn shop. It was known as Monte dei Pegni.
A fire severely damaged the building during the 1848 rebellions. In 1929 the Cassa di Risparmio Siciliana acquired Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja. Aerial bombardments during World War II further damaged it. It continued as a pawn shop until the 1980s.
Fondazione Banco di Sicilia acquired it in 2005. They led a refurbishment. Since 2012 Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja has been home to the Fondazione Sicilia. Architect Gae Aulenti directed the refurbishment.
The Fondazione Sicilia uses Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja to display its collections. These include archaeological artifacts coins stamps and tin-glazed pottery. You can also find sculpture and frescoes on panel here. The main painting collection is in Villa Zito. The Foundation also has a collection of Sicilian puppets and theatrical scenes.
Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja also houses a library with 40000 volumes. There is a numismatic and philatelic collection too. Prestigious sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries are exhibited. A bookshop and auditorium are also present. The auditorium hosts conferences and cultural events. Largo Gae Aulenti is near the Palazzo.
During the mid-18th century the Branciforte family enlarged Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja. They included new stables with cross vaults supported by grey marble columns. The Senate transformed it into a branch of the Monte dei Pegni. Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja stored the possessions of the lower classes.
Between 1822 and 1841 about four million seizure orders were issued for linen silk and woollen items. After the 1848 fire large wooden shelving units were created to store seized goods. Storage assistants were nicknamed monkey men. They were young men who could climb the shelves.
In 1929 the Monte di Pietà merged with the Cassa Centrale di Risparmio Vittorio Emanuele. In April 1943 an Allied bombing raid damaged Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja.
Today Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja stands as a testament to Palermo’s resilience. It is a cultural hub where history art and community converge. As you explore its halls remember the stories of those who lived worked or sought refuge here. Their experiences have shaped Palazzo Branciforte Raccuja into the place it is today.