Welcome to Palazzo Ventimiglia
On the heart of the historic centre, between Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via dei Cartari, the Palace is one of the oldest and most prestigious buildings in Palermo
It was erected in 1571 a.D. by Paolo Ferreri, a wealthy Ligurian merchant. It was the residence of the Ventimiglia Counts of Prades, then of the Platamone Dukes of Larderia and finally of the Mantegna Princes of Gangi.It’s probable that pre-existing buildings were incorporated into the sixteenth-century building site, unified only in the prospectus design. Although subject to enlargements, additions and renovations over the last few centuries, it is still possible to grasp some aspects of the first project. The floor plan of the building has a wide-ranging atrium and a vast central hall passing through and opening onto the courtyard through a majestic loggia with three lights. The nine bays of the ground floor were used as premises for shops and laid out with an ashlar order made with precious exposed stone.
On the side elevation of vicolo Madonna del Cassaro you can admire the Aedicule of the Holy Family and San Lorenzo by Gerardo Astorino from the 17th century.
In 1885 the large halls of the noble floor hosted the Palermo artistic circle and was the seat of the Department of History and Project in Architecture of the University of Palermo until 31 December 2010.
Only in recent times has knowledge of the centuries-old history of the building emerged largely thanks to the research of professor Camillo Filangeri. (https://www.unipa.it/Sedi/)
Where we are
We are in Palermo in via Vittorio Emanuele, 188.