Palazzo Lanza Tomasi

Palazzo Lanza Tomasi is located in the historic centre of Palermo in the heart of the Kalsa district, from the Arabic Halisa, “the Splendid”, the elected citadel of the Emirs.  It overlooks Palermo’s stunning seafront with the twelve windows of its façade and the lush terrace, a real hanging garden rich of Mediterranean and sub-tropical essences. The Palazzo was built between the end of the 17^th century and the beginning of the 18^th century atop the Spanish military casemates behind the 16^th century city walls, the so-called Mura delle Cattive The Palazzo was the last home of Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the famous author of  Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) , who spent there the final years of his life until his death in July 1957, after the destruction of his family mansion Palazzo Lampedusa, during the Allied bombings on April 5^th, 1943. His adopted son, Gioacchino Lanza Tomasi, reconstructed the entire property in the 1970s and lovingly oversaw its restoration. The main charm of the Palazzo rests in its location and the grandeur of serene space and glorious sunlight. Its interior decoration is typical of the great houses of Palermo’s aristocracy and contains a valuable collection of furnishings from the great Sicilian cabinetmakers.

Most of the piano nobile consists of the writer’s house museum. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s historical library has remained intact since his death. In the ballroom, all his manuscripts are on display: the complete manuscript of Il Gattopardo, the typescript refused by two publishers before being accepted by Feltrinelli after the author’s death, a draft of the fourth part of the novel including a page that the author never added to it, the manuscript of his Childhood Memories, his Lessons of English and French Literature and a first draft of the short story The Professor and the Siren. The furnishing of the grand staircase, the two entrance halls and the historic library includes pieces of furniture and paintings salvaged from the destroyed Palazzo Lampedusa. Some others come from the Palazzo in Santa Margherita di Belice, the summer house of the author’s maternal family, the Filangeri di Cutò. Their Palazzo was razed to the ground by the earthquake of the Belice Valley in 1968. In the historical library are two large 18^th-century vases from Caltagirone, and above the fireplace, an important painting by Jacopo Palma the Younger, representing Saint Jerome.

In the ballroom, the overdoors and some of the 18^th-century furniture also come from Palazzo Lampedusa, as do many of the paintings on display, among which a remarkable work by Domenico Provenzano depicting the family of the Duca Santo, the Saint Duke, Giulio Tomasi di Lampedusa, Duke of Palma, including San Giuseppe Maria Tomasi and the Venerable Sister Maria Crocifissa, the Beata Corbera mentioned in Il Gattopardo.

The remaining furnishings of the piano nobile come from the collections of the Marquis of Villa Urrutia and the Ruffo di Bagnara family, which used to be in Palazzo Lanza di Mazzarino.

They include also a superb inlaid marble and pietra dura table from the mid-16^th century, originally in Villa Palagonia, two rare Sicilian cabinets in ebony and ivory from the early 18^th century, two Rezzonico-style cage chandeliers from Murano and a Louis XVI chandelier, along with paintings by Pietro Novelli, Antonio Catalano and Federico Barocci.

Among the modern and contemporary artworks, on display are some set design sketches by Arnaldo Pomodoro, Mimmo Paladino, Giulio Paolini and Robert Wilson, as well as two pen portraits by Pablo Picasso from 1910, depicting the Marchesa Anita di Villa Urrutia, Gioacchino Lanza Tomasi’s grandmother, and a portrait of his mother Conchita signed by Giulio De Blas.

The third floor of the Palazzo hosts Butera 28 Apartments, twelve lovely, modernly equipped holiday homes.

The history of Palazzo Lanza Tomasi

Palazzo Lanza Tomasi, which faces Palermo’s seafront, was built in the second half of the 17^th century atop the Spanish military casemates behind the 16^th century city walls. At the beginning of the 16^th century, a crucial moment for the naval supremacy in the South Mediterranean, Spain fortified Sicilian cities with new walls. Ramparts were built for defence against the new artillery warfare. Palermo’s seafront was protected northwards by the fort of Castellamare, southwards by the bastion of Vega, and the bastion of Tuono was built in-between. The area behind the ramparts was militarized, and only in the second half of the 17^th century the first palaces were built. The bastion of Tuono was pulled down around 1720, the bastion of Vega at the end of that century. The first buildings were the Branciforte di Butera palace and the Noviziato dei Crociferi. The Lanza Branciforte family owned the whole bastioned front from Porta Felice, one of the city gates, to the bastion of Tuono. The buildings behind the bastion were handed over to the Gravina family.

The Gravinas then leased them to the Theatine fathers, who created there an Imperial College for the education of young aristocrats. The College was founded during the Spanish war of succession and in 1728, the foundation year, Palermo acknowledged as its king Charles VI of Habsburg. The College was closed down in 1768 and the palazzo was bought by Giuseppe Amato, Prince of Galati. The Prince unified the frontage on the sea in Vanvitelli style, adding the 50m long and 9 m wide terrace. In 1849, the palazzo was bought by Prince Giulio Fabrizio Tomasi di Lampedusa with the indemnity paid by the king of Naples for the expropriation of the island of Lampedusa. Giulio Fabrizio, an amateur astronomer, would be the model for the main character in “The Leopard”, the novel written by his great-grandson Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.

In 1862 the De Paces, rich ship-owners related to the Florio family, bought half of the palazzo and transformed it according to the taste of the period. An imposing staircase was created using marbles salvaged from the demolitions made for the building of the Massimo Opera House. A grand ballroom was built with a wooden floor made of alternating walnut and cherry staves.

In 1948 Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, who had lost his family palazzo in the bombing of April 5^th, 1943, bought the De Pace’s property and lived there until his death in 1957. His adoptive son Gioacchino Lanza Tomasi has unified the whole property and thoroughly restored the building. The furnishings of the ballroom and the writer’s library are mostly from the destroyed Palazzo Lampedusa, the furnishings, pictures and objects of the other rooms are from Palazzo Lanza di Mazzarino. The main charm of the palazzo rests in its location and the grandeur of serene space and glorious sunlight. Its interior decoration is typical of the great houses of Palermo’s aristocracy and contains a valuable collection of furnishings from the great Sicilian cabinet makers.

The Lanza Branciforte family, of Swabian origin, moved to Sicily in the 13^th century. Besides holding the title of Count of Mazzarino also held that of Prince of Butera, first among the peers in the Kingdom, and of Prince of Trabia, second among peers. The Tomasi family stands out in the 17^th century for the mystical inclination and the devotion of its members, notably the Saint Duke, Giulio Tomasi, founder of the city of Palma di Montechiaro. Among his children were Cardinal Saint Giuseppe Maria Tomasi and the Venerable Sister Maria Crocifissa, author of mystical texts, buried in the Benedictine Monastery of SS Rosario in Palma di Montechiaro.

Conference Hall, Mediterranean Hall and the Tomasi di Lampedusa Family Museum

The monumental staircase of Palazzo Lanza Tomasi provides access to the south-west wing, where the Conference Hall, the Mediterranean Hall and the Tomasi di Lampedusa Family Museum are located. The brightly lit rooms, frescoed ceilings and white marble floors make it an ideal space for hosting conferences, book presentations and other cultural events. The halls are equipped with Wi-Fi, video projectors, screens and sound systems.

The conference space consists of three rooms and accompanying facilities. It has an independent entrance from the lift and the grand marble staircase and is accessible to disabled people. The central hall has a characteristic frescoed vaulted ceiling, depicting oriental scenes from a harem, typical of the late 19^th century, and an exceptional collection of 18^th century French and Dutch fans. Under the fans’ glass case, a Louis Philippe style sofa, used by Luchino Visconti in his masterpiece Il Gattopardo, is on display. Looking across from the fan case, beyond the historical library and the ballroom, the view sweeps down to the Gulf of Palermo’s waterfront. In the hall left of the central room, there is a collection of Mediterranean nautical charts, compiled by the British Navy in 1870 and kept onboard Louise, the yacht owned by Count Giuseppe Lanza di Mazzarino, Gioacchino Lanza Tomasi’s grandfather. On the opposite side is the Tomasi di Lampedusa Family Museum, displaying paintings, objects and documents related to the author’s family.

Worthy of attention are the two portraits of Prince Giulio Fabrizio Tomasi di Lampedusa, the writer’s great-grandfather, an amateur astronomer and the main inspiration for the protagonist of Il Gattopardo. Underneath one of the portraits is a British-made telescope from 1790; a similar instrument can be found in the Astronomical Observatory of the Royal Palace of Palermo. Among the exhibits is the diploma granting the Tomasi family the title of Dukes of Palma, bestowed upon them by King Philip III of Sicily and IV of Spain. The parchment is dated 1638. Next to this, a cabinet contains the writer’s two library card indexes: a pre-WW II index book, which tracks the dates of his purchases and the books he read, and a later tabbed catalogue, compiled after he moved to 28 Via Butera. On the opposite walls hang the portraits of the Tasca Mastrogiovanni Filangeri di Cutò family, relatives of the writer’s mother. Two showcases display a series of documents related to the 17^th-century family saints, Saint Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and his sister, the Venerable Sister Maria Crocifissa. Of great interest is an illuminated manuscript from 1654 granting the honorary citizenship of Messina to Duke Giulio Tomasi.

Facilities and services: Accommodation, Cultural Visits and Private Events

Palazzo Lanza Tomasi is open to the public only for groups of minimum 15 people. Nicoletta Lanza Tomasi, Duchess of Palma, who resides at the Palazzo, speaks Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Russian. She personally guides the tour of the terrace and the piano nobile. During the visit you will have the opportunity to admire the historic library of Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and his manuscripts, including the complete manuscript of Il Gattopardo.

It is possible to organise cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions and book presentations, as well as cocktails, lunches and dinners for groups interested in art, culture, literature and Sicilian gastronomy.

Palazzo Lanza Tomasi is also a unique venue for elegant and exclusive weddings.

In the spacious halls of the piano nobile, cocktails, luncheons, dinners and intimate weddings can be organised, with an option for musical accompaniment. The Duchess personally creates and supervises the menus, which are a refined reinterpretation of classic Sicilian cuisine and reflect the millennial influences of the various cultures that have shaped Sicily’s history.

The Duchess also organises Sicilian cooking classes (A Day Cooking with the Duchess), offering a captivating culinary and cultural experience that includes a visit to the picturesque Capo market, a cooking lesson in the kitchen of the Palazzo, lunch and a visit to the piano nobile and the terrace.

Accommodation in one of the most beautiful historic Palazzos in Palermo

Part of the Palazzo has been divided into self-catering holiday homes. They are all furnished with period furniture, fully equipped kitchens and provided with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, central heating, washing machines and TV. Some also have terraces with stunning sea views or balconies overlooking the historic centre.

Places of interest in the vicinity

From Palazzo Lanza Tomasi, you can easily reach all the tourist and cultural attractions of the historic centre on foot. Nearby are the churches of Santa Maria della Pietà, Santa Teresa alla Kalsa, Santa Maria degli Angeli (la Gancia), Santa Maria della Catena, Palazzo Abatellis, the Botanical Garden, Palazzo Chiaramonte, Piazza Marina and Palazzo Mirto.

In just a few minutes you can also reach the Church of San Francesco, the Oratory of San Lorenzo, Vucciria market, Piazza San Domenico, the Oratories of SS. Rosario in Via Valverde and Santa Cita, and the church of Santa Cita. Walking along Via Alloro, you will come across the Modern Art Gallery, Palazzo Gangi, and Casa Professa church.

Continuing along Via Vittorio Emanuele, you will reach the Quattro Canti with the churches of La Martorana, San Cataldo, Santa Caterina and San Giuseppe dei Teatini, Piazza Pretoria with its famous fountain, the Cathedral, the Diocesan Museum, the Royal Palace with the Palatine Chapel and San Giovanni degli Eremiti. A short stroll will also take you to the Teatro Massimo and the Capo Market.