Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi is one of the large townhouses
located in Palermo, Sicily. Palermo locates on the north- west coast by the
sea; its location made it a center for commerce and vast prosperity. Palermo
also harbors mild climate and fertile soil, so it eventually attracted the
wealthy and noble to settle and transforming the area with artistic and
linguistic forms. (1)
Prince Pietro Valguarnera, a son of one of the most
prestigious families of the Sicilian aristocracy of Spanish origin inherited
his family title after his older brother past away, was the one who decided to
commission the expansion of the Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi. The palace was
constructed throughout the 18th century. (2) Before construction of
the mansion, Pietro Valguarnera needed to buy the warehouses on the western
side of the main building, so he could have more space to build. Once he gained
enough land, he paid Andrea Gigante, one of the best architects of the day, to
begin designing for this masterpiece. (1)
The grand ballroom is one of its most magnificent rooms with
lavish sofas, woodwork, console tables, carved chairs, and well decorated
walls, doors painted in pure gold and tall elegant mirrors that reflect stylish
ornaments. The ceiling harbors similar extravagance, it is decorated with
Murano glass chandeliers to candles that well resembles the luxurious styles of
the era. (2) The Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi is one of the most successful
representations of Baroque architecture that still stands today.
1.
Cotugno, Linda, Nuccio, Lucrezia. “Valguarnera-
Gangi Palace: A Historical Cultural Urban Structure in Palermo”. 2011. Web. http://geografie.uvt.ro/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ART_9_COTUGNO_NUCCIO.pdf
2. Stanzione,
Nicola. "Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi - Www.palermoviva.it." Www.palermoviva.it.
N.p., 2016. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.
3. "Palazzo
Valguarnera-Gangi (Palermo)." All That Is Chic. N.p., 2016. Web. 05
Dec. 2016.
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