Palazzo Sclafani - Palermo

The palace was built in 1330 as evidenced by a marble plaque, by Matteo Sclafani, to a noble family of Norman origin.

When Matteo Sclafani died in 1354 , the powerful and wealthy family became extinct due to the lack of male heirs , despite the three marriages concluded, legitimate and natural children. The struggle for succession between the different sexes lasted 43 years. In 1400, the great palace was confiscated and assigned to a noble Spanish family who neglected it.

In 1430 the aim was to merge a large part of the numerous small city hospitals, all of religious origin and relevance, into Ospedale Grande e Nuovo . In 1435 it was converted into a hospital until it became a military barracks in 1852. It was badly damaged during the last world war and completely restored between 1994 and 1996 , with the western and part of the northern facade and the 14th-century parts of the courtyard restored to their original state.

It is one of the most striking examples of 14th-century civil architecture. It is developed in a square around a courtyard with a portico. The Gothic style entrance portal is crowned by an aedicule with a trefoil arch and even higher, by the eagle grasping a hare in its talons.

The courtyard has columns transformed in 1778 into pillars with 16 arches, a second order partially reconstructed with loggias with ogee arches, a well is documented in the center. In the 15th century, among the decorations of the palace courtyard, the fresco depicting the Triumph of Death stood out . The painting was detached after the last war and is currently exhibited in the Regional Gallery of Sicily in Palazzo Abatellis.

Nowadays temporary exhibitions and events take place there.

Willem Vandenameele