Palazzo Corvaja, Taormina, Italy - SpottingHistory.com

Palazzo Corvaja is a medieval palace in Taormina, dating from the 10th century. The origins of the palazzo incorporate an early Arab fortress, which in turn was constructed on Roman foundations. It was subsequently added to over various periods up until the 15th century. Its main body is an Islamic-style tower, and it has an inner courtyard where the Islamic influence can be seen in the arched windows and doorways. A 13th century staircase leads up to the first floor and an ornamental balcony which overlooks the courtyard.

The palace is named after one of the oldest and most famous families of Taormina, which owned it from 1538 to 1945.

On four main floors and constructed around a courtyard, the Moorish Gothic palazzo is crenellated. The principal floor has fenestration of pairs of lancet windows divided by columns. The courtyard walls are decorated by reliefs illustrating The Creation.

Today the palazzo is used as an exhibition centre.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in Italy

User Reviews

Dan M (11 months ago)
Not exceptional, still beautiful You'll find this interesting palace right after Porta Messina, on your left from Corso Umberto which is the main street in Taormina Old City, at the entrance of Via Teatro Greco. Besides the palace itself I'd recommend to stroll in this street. There are indeed many shops of all kind along this street, mainly souvenir shops of course, and eateries. You''ll be also very close to Bam Bar and its unforgettable Granita (try pistachio, coffee or almond). I believe you'll pass by this place whether you want it or not. Since it leads to the Roman Theater (which 10 euros entrance is by the way free on the 1st Sunday of every month) and since this Theater is on of the top 3 attraction in Taormina, you'll probably be there. As I wrote, it also crosses Corso Umberto which the Top attraction so ...let your feet lead you there, stop at this Palace, then for an hour or two at the Ancient Theater and then take a Granita and Brioche break at Bam Bar, you won't regret it.

M B (16 months ago)
Impressive courtyard

Alexander McGowan (23 months ago)
Taormina was beautiful and the view amazing. We didn't go in the palace. We were too early.

Alin Marin (3 years ago)
Looks nice from the outside. Unfortunately I didn't went inside.

Siva N Prasad (4 years ago)
An amazing touristic place to go with family and friends. It's an mesmerizing place with an amazing view of the sea from a high altitude! It's a bit rustic with all the old churches and Duomo! There are narrow pagans which will lead you to restaurants and hotels. Give it a visit and have fun!

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Historic Site of the week

Luxembourg Palace

The famous Italian Medici family have given two queens to France: Catherine, the spouse of Henry II, and Marie, widow of Henry IV, who built the current Luxembourg palace. Maria di Medici had never been happy at the Louvre, still semi-medieval, where the fickle king, did not hesitate to receive his mistresses. The death of Henry IV, assassinated in 1610, left the way open for Marie's project. When she became regent, she was able to give special attention to the construction of an imposing modern residence that would be reminiscent of the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens in Florence, where she grew up. The development of the 25-hectare park, which was to serve as a jewel-case for the palace, began immediately.

The architect, Salomon de Brosse, began the work in 1615. Only 16 years later was the palace was completed. Palace of Luxembourg affords a transition between the Renaissance and the Classical period.

In 1750, the Director of the King's Buildings installed in the wing the first public art-gallery in France, in which French and foreign canvases of the royal collections are shown. The Count of Provence and future Louis XVIII, who was living in Petit Luxembourg, had this gallery closed in 1780: leaving to emigrate, he fled from the palace in June 1791.

During the French Revolution the palace was first abandoned and then moved as a national prison. After that it was the seat of the French Directory, and in 1799, the home of the Sénat conservateur and the first residence of Napoleon Bonaparte, as First Consul of the French Republic. The old apartments of Maria di Medici were altered. The floor, which the 80 senators only occupied in 1804, was built in the middle of the present Conference Hall.

Beginning in 1835 the architect Alphonse de Gisors added a new garden wing parallel to the old corps de logis, replicating the look of the original 17th-century facade so precisely that it is difficult to distinguish at first glance the old from the new. The new senate chamber was located in what would have been the courtyard area in-between.

The new wing included a library (bibliothèque) with a cycle of paintings (1845–1847) by Eugène Delacroix. In the 1850s, at the request of Emperor Napoleon III, Gisors created the highly decorated Salle des Conférences, which influenced the nature of subsequent official interiors of the Second Empire, including those of the Palais Garnier.

During the German occupation of Paris (1940–1944), Hermann Göring took over the palace as the headquarters of the Luftwaffe in France, taking for himself a sumptuous suite of rooms to accommodate his visits to the French capital. Since 1958 the Luxembourg palace has been the seat of the French Senate of the Fifth Republic.

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