Palazzo Sant'Elia

About

The Palazzo Celestri di Santacroce, also known as the Palazzo Sant'Elia is a Baroque-style aristocratic palace located on via Maqueda 90 in the ancient quarter of Kalsa of central Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. Once the urban palace of a wealthy and prominent family, a large portion of the palace is now used for exhibitions and private functions. The palace is diagonal to the Southeast of the Palazzo Comitini, and just a block north of the church of the Assunta.

History: The palace was built atop and enlarging a prior structure known as the Palazzo Imbarbara. The present structure was commissioned by Giambattista Celestri, 1st Marchese di Santa Croce, along with his brother Tommaso. Construction began in 1756, with the main layout and facade dictated by the designs by the architect and engineer Nicolò Anito. By 1760, the work proceeded under Giovanbattista Cascione Vaccarini, who determined some of the decoration, including the stuccowork, of the main courtyard and of the facade. In 1866, Marianna Celestri di Santa Croce, the last heir, willed the property to her cousin Romualdo Trigona, prince of Sant'Elia. By 1984, the palace had become dilapidated, and was purchased by the...