Description
Palazzo Granafei-Nervegna is an elegant Renaissance palace on Via Duomo, in Brindisi's old town, now a cultural space for the city. People come mainly to see the original capital of the Roman Columns up close, displayed in one of its rooms.
Before going in, take time to read the facade. Cornices divide it into three floors, no two windows are alike, and four Latin maxims offer advice to passersby: "the wise woman builds her house; the foolish one tears it down with her own hands," or "love not sleep, lest you come to poverty."
Over the portal is the Granafei coat of arms: a rampant lion clutching an ear of wheat. It's a play on the surname, which was said to come from "granum fert," it bears grain.
The palace first appears in a document of 1565 as the house of the "magnificent" Nicolò Granafei. According to family tradition, the Granafei came from Constantinople, which they had fled after the Turkish conquest, and had moved from Oria to Brindisi.
An inventory from 1749 lists on the upper floor a great hall, the chapel and even a "ladies' room."
In 1862 the palace passed to the brothers Luigi and Giuseppe Nervegna, merchants in oil, grain and wine. Luigi was already living there as a tenant, and the deed of sale notes that he had grown fond of it.
Giuseppe Nervegna was passionate about archaeology and ancient coins, and served as German consul and British vice-consul. He campaigned for the port of Brindisi to be ready to receive the Indian Mail and the great international trade routes.
In 1921 the heirs sold it to the Piccolo Credito Cattolico, and in 1930 the city bought it, making it the seat of the courthouse until 1976. After decades of neglect, it was restored and reopened to the public in 2008, with exhibition rooms and the mayor's official offices.
Before going in, take time to read the facade. Cornices divide it into three floors, no two windows are alike, and four Latin maxims offer advice to passersby: "the wise woman builds her house; the foolish one tears it down with her own hands," or "love not sleep, lest you come to poverty."
Over the portal is the Granafei coat of arms: a rampant lion clutching an ear of wheat. It's a play on the surname, which was said to come from "granum fert," it bears grain.
The palace first appears in a document of 1565 as the house of the "magnificent" Nicolò Granafei. According to family tradition, the Granafei came from Constantinople, which they had fled after the Turkish conquest, and had moved from Oria to Brindisi.
An inventory from 1749 lists on the upper floor a great hall, the chapel and even a "ladies' room."
In 1862 the palace passed to the brothers Luigi and Giuseppe Nervegna, merchants in oil, grain and wine. Luigi was already living there as a tenant, and the deed of sale notes that he had grown fond of it.
Giuseppe Nervegna was passionate about archaeology and ancient coins, and served as German consul and British vice-consul. He campaigned for the port of Brindisi to be ready to receive the Indian Mail and the great international trade routes.
In 1921 the heirs sold it to the Piccolo Credito Cattolico, and in 1930 the city bought it, making it the seat of the courthouse until 1976. After decades of neglect, it was restored and reopened to the public in 2008, with exhibition rooms and the mayor's official offices.