Palazzo Butera

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Palazzo Butera is a XVII/XVIII century monumental complex in the historic district of Kalsa, overlooking the Foro Italico and featuring the so-called “Passeggiata delle Cattive” (a place where widows would take a walk while mourning, protected from prying eyes). The latter path overlooks the whole Gulf of Palermo.

Purchased in 1692 by Girolamo Branciforti – Prince of Butera, this palace reached its maximum splendour in the 1870s thanks to Ercole Michele Branciforti, one of the major protagonists of the local political and cultural scene. Later on, the palace passed to the Princes of Trabia, who lived there until the outbreak of the Second World War. Abandonment followed, due to the destructions caused by the conflict and the palace was eventually used again to house a regional office and an educational institution; later, it became an official reception facility and due to all the above-mentioned uses, the original structure was remarkably modified.

In, 2016, it was eventually bought by Massimo Valsecchi and his wife Francesca, who underwent careful restoration work, completed in two years thanks to stellar teamwork (over a hundred professionals contributed, including restorers, architects, engineers, surveyors and artisans). The ancient beauty of the Palazzo was eventually restored to its original splendour, this time integrated with contemporary interventions, aimed at transforming the building into a “domestic” museum; the latter facility now includes the precious collections of the owners, ranging from contemporary works of art, original objects, and several masterpieces of the XIX century.
The whole project was commissioned to the architect Giovanni Cappelletti.

On the ground floor of the building, there will soon be a reference library, as well as some spaces for temporary exhibitions and educational activities aimed for school and university students.
The first floor will remain private, while a house-museum project will be developed on the second noble floor open to the public. Artists, curators and cultural representatives will enjoy hospitality in the guesthouse and work on several research projects, new exhibitions and activities organized inside the building.

The palace overlooks two adjacent courtyards, decorated with exotic plants, including three impressive Solandra maxima – evergreen creepers that almost entirely cover the balustrades of the large terrace overlooking the first courtyard, some specimens of bougainvillaea, Jasminum, palms, banana trees, and papyrus inside of a tub leaning against the wall; plants decorations also include a large Jacaranda mimosifolia, a splendid tree of the Bignoniaceae family, native to South America but widespread in Southern Italy: it grows right next to the building, in the first courtyard. During the restoration work, one of its large and long roots was found in a rainwater ditch covered with XVIII and XIX century majolica tiles: that clearly demonstrates the very plant “intelligence” as its roots had become thinner where water was scarce, creeping towards the nearby well. This particular spot has been thoroughly preserved and covered with glass for the visitors’ benefit.

Palazzo Butera also houses the excellent “Le Cattive” bistro inside the main courtyard, established by Tasca d’Almerita family: it’s a multifunctional space, with local wine and excellent dishes from the Sicilian tradition served from breakfast to dinner.
This facility is usually involved in numberless cultural activities, meetings, events and even book presentations hosted at the Palazzo.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)