Palazzo de Ballis – Wikipedia

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From Wikipedia, Liberade Libera.

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The Palazzo de Ballis It is a historical Spanish Gothic style building of the fifteenth century of which the Dance tower it’s part. It is located in the historic center of Alcamo, in the province of Trapani.

This palace of the fifteenth century, together with its tower, is considered the oldest and most valuable civil building of Alcamo; According to the historian Pietro Maria Rocca, he dates back to 1495. [first]

It belonged to the De Ballis family, nobles originally from Piacenza who built it on a project by Tommaso and Pietro Oddo, (father and son) of Monreale (Palermo).

In the past he has seen several changes of ownership. After the extinction of the De Ballis, the transfer of ownership to the Papè and Polizzi family, the part including the tower belongs to the Angelo family, while the other part belongs to the Castrogiovanni-Insignitto family. [2]

So Giuseppe Polizzi describes the building:

Torre de Ballis, whose well -preserved top, has a rectangular window divided into 3 lights by two columns and a mullioned window in the rear prospectus, beyond a beautiful machine for machicoulis that supports the merging. Elliptical arc doors surrounded by Gothic silhouettes poggianti above shaped shelves . [3]
Palazzo de Ballis, restored
Palazzo de Ballis, side via Madonna dell’Alto

The tower is square -shaped and has a window with arches on the first floor, with small shelves; On the second floor there is a trifora inserted in a round arch. In the courtyard on the east side a mild window overlooks. [2] The tower is surrounded by blackbirds that rest on small niches that support acute arches.

In ancient times the main entrance was in a central position; In the 18th century it was replaced by two others: [2] The first, at number 21, has a limestone portal with two bases surmounted by pilasters; The second, at number 23, is smaller and has two irregular bases, due to the restoration of the road surface. The tower is accessed through a scale from entry to civic number 23.

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On the first floor there are four balconies, two of which with stone balconies and grooved shelves; On the south side, on the second floor, two stone balconies also open; On the ground floor, in via Madonna dell’Alto, there are three doors and three windows, today civil homes.
On the first floor there are four balconies, and another on the second floor; On the corner there is the coat of arms of the De Ballis family, with a changing shield and with three balls. [2]

On the inside of the building there is an elegant courtyard from which the access scale on the first floor branches off; Here the doors are lacquered and the glass panels, painted with floral elements and various figures. [4] In the hall there are painted frescoes restored in 1985 by Professor Giuseppe Ganga, [2] depicting multicolored flowers and landscapes. The center of the vault is instead surmounted by a rose window. The bedroom is adorned with a canopy bed and frescoes on the ceiling.

In 2005 the palace and the tower underwent a restoration that respected the original characteristics of the building; These works were entirely borne by the Angelo Angela family.

Musikè Cultural Association [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

It is based in this building and the promotion of art and music is proposed, in order to contribute to the growth and inner beauty, especially of the youngest, by means of exhibitions, concerts, music and singing courses – music therapy, beyond to the spread of literary and mathematics disciplines.

Another purpose is to recover the flavors, customs and traditions of our past; Dinners are given and guided tours can be made to Palazzo de Ballis.

  1. ^ Carlo Cataldo: historical-artistic guide of the cultural heritage of Alcamo, Calatafimi, Castellammare del Golfo, Salemi and Vita, Sarography-Alcamo (1982)
  2. ^ a b c d It is Roberto Calia: the buildings of the Alcamese aristocracy and bourgeoisie; Alcamo, Carrubba, 1997
  3. ^ Giuseppe Polizzi: the monuments of antiquity and art of the province of Trapani; Trapani, Giovanni Modica Romano, 1879, p.61
  4. ^ http://www.alqamah.it 2014/01/13/historia-alcami-i-palazzi-storici/

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