Did you know that the Albergo delle Povere began as a dream to shelter Palermo’s most vulnerable? It is located on Corso Calatafimi. Let’s step back to 1733. The Austrian viceroyalty saw the birth of the Reale Albergo dei Poveri. Its mission was clear to house the disabled the crippled young vagrants and orphans.
Ferdinando Francesco Gravina Prince of Palagonia was one of the founders. Imagine a haven outside Porta Termini later known as Albergo Vecchio. The vision gained momentum under Charles of Bourbon. Construction started in 1746. The viceroy of Sicily Bartolomeo Corsini supervised. The first stone was laid on April 24th. Workers unearthed Phoenician and Carthaginian tombs during construction. The project faced delays. The Albergo delle Povere was finally inaugurated on August 8 1772 during the reign of Ferdinand III.
The church in the first courtyard is dedicated to Santa Maria della Purificazione. It was built between 1773 and 1779. Fast forward to 1898. The Albergo dei Povere became exclusively for women. Its name changed accordingly. During the Second World War in 1943 the Albergo delle Povere suffered damage from bombings. Restoration followed the war.
The Albergo delle Povere stands as a rectangular building. It features two tiers of rectangular windows. The top floor has circular windows. Balconies adorn the sides. The facade is made of carved stone. A portal with columns supports a marble shield. Inside the courtyard a church connects to the building’s outer wings. Staircases lead to the building’s sections. The right courtyard features porticoes and loggias. Thirty-one arches rest on thirty-two columns. The left courtyard has porticoes loggias and a central fountain added later.
The Albergo delle Povere had semi-underground cellars. The ground floor included silk spinning and weaving facilities plus a hosiery. The first floor contained dormitories various rooms and the rector’s residence. Attics served as service areas. A grand staircase features a landing adorned with a crucifix on a marble canopy. Another staircase boasts a landing enriched by a painting.
The Albergo delle Povere once housed the Real Educatorio Maria Adelaide. Nuns from the Congregation of San Francesco di Sales laid the foundation stone in 1735. The church of San Francesco di Sales designed by Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia opened in 1776. It was consecrated on May 8 1818. Inside admire Gaetano Mercurio’s paintings. They depict San Francesco di Sales donating the Rule to Sister Giovanna Francesca di Chantal. Other works include the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth and San Giuseppe.
Until 1898 both men and women occupied the Albergo dei Povere. Men were then moved to the Ricovero della Mendicità. Only women remained. They spent their days weaving cloth and silk. This labor provided materials for curtains and clothing. Skilled workers even produced French-style fabrics. A weaver from France directed this effort.
Today the Albergo delle Povere is partly owned by the Sicilian Region. The Istituto Principe di Palagonia e Conte Ventimiglia also owns a portion. It is opening the monument to the public. It hosts temporary exhibitions and conferences. Part of the building still houses elderly women cared for by the Sisters of Charity. The Albergo delle Povere is a testament to Palermo’s history of compassion and resilience.