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Marchesale Caracciolo del Balzo Palace

The embryo of the Marchesale Caracciolo Palace was built in 1581 by Giovanni Vincenzo Scalaleone owner of the fiefdom and a prominent exponent of the Neapolitan nobility, in 163l the residence changed ownership and took on its current appearance as a Renaissance palace, the architect of this renovation which stood halfway between architecture and esotericism, was Francesco Caracciolo marquis of Cervinara and Mottola. In particular, Francesco had equipped it with a series of rather unusual decorative elements which were at the time - as they still are - cloaked of an indecipherable aura of mystery.

The facade of the building is in fact covered with symbols that seem to recall and allude to the Masonic symbolism, such as the "Archipendulum", i.e. the measuring instrument made up of a square and compass which is the symbol of Freemasonry and then again the "Patent Cross" or Templar”, the “Lozenge”, the “Flowers of Life”, the “Flaming Sword” and so on. But the most unusual element is not so much represented by these decorations, but by the fact that Freemasonry was officially formed only several decades later, on 24 June 1717, that is to say approximately fifty years after the death of Francis. It is therefore assumed that he may have been one of the very first adherents of the "Rose Cross", a proto-Masonic sect that was born in Germany at the beginning of the 17th century166.

The enormous room, measuring 22 by 9 metres, has a splendid coffered wooden ceiling and a cycle of tempera paintings where scenes taken from Gerusalemme Liberata are alternated with medallions with portraits of characters from the Caracciolo household.
In all likelihood it represents the first known pictorial transposition of Torquato Tasso's masterpiece. The famous epic poem, in fact, had been published only a few decades earlier, in the second half of the sixteenth century. It narrates the historical events of the First Crusade and naturally reports various episodes connected to magic and esotericism; However, many of these frescoes illustrate magicians and books with particular symbols that do not appear described in Tasso's masterpiece, thus resulting in additions that were probably inspired by the Marquis's esoteric interests and studies.

Also worth admiring are the very rare coffered ceilings in the other rooms and the decorations in the Noah's Ark room and the Little Birds room. Not to be missed is the small pontifical chapel, built by Marino Caracciolo which opens into the billiard room, consecrated by Pope Benedict XIII, Pope Orsini, in 1727 on the occasion of his visit to Cervinara

Laura Caracciolo di Sant'Eramo married Count Giuseppe del Balzo di Presnzano at the end of the 19th century, who purchased part of the palace from the other heirs which took the name of Marchesale Caracciolo del Balzo Palace.

Map: Marchesale Caracciolo del Balzo Palace

vCard Info:

Address: Piazza Regina Elena, 1, 83012
Cervinara (AV) Campania
Latitude: 41.0166513
Longitude: 14.6252907
Site: http://www.palazzomarchesale.i...

vCard created by: culturalword
Currently owned by: culturalword

Type: Palace
Function: Events room
Creation date: 27-10-2020 05:23
Last update: 02/07/2024