Zisa, Palermo

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Zisa Palace
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Palermo-Zisa-bjs-1.jpg
The Zisa of Palermo
LocationPalermo, Sicily, Italy
Part ofArab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale
Reference1487-006
Inscription2015 (39th Session)
Area0.8 ha (2.0 acres)
Coordinates38°07′00″N 13°20′29″E / 38.11667°N 13.34139°E / 38.11667; 13.34139Coordinates: 38°07′00″N 13°20′29″E / 38.11667°N 13.34139°E / 38.11667; 13.34139
Zisa, Palermo is located in Sicily
Zisa, Palermo
Location of Zisa, Palermo in Sicily

The Zisa is a castle located in the western area of Palemo, Italy. The edifice was designed by an Arabian craftsman and construction began around 1165 under the rule of king William I of Sicily but was not finished until 1189 was under the rule of William II, his son, due to his untimely death.

The Zisa is inspired by Moorish architecture. The name Zisa itself derives from the Arab term al-Azīz, meaning "dear" or "splendid".[1] The same word, in Naskh script, is impressed in the entrance, according to the usual habit for the main Islamic edifices of the time. The structure had been conceived as summer residence for the Norman kings, as a part of the large hunting resort known as Genoardo (Arabic: Jannat al-arḍ, literally "Earthly Paradise")[2] that included also the Cuba Sottana, the Cuba Soprana and the Uscibene palace. Joan of England, Queen of Sicily, widow of William II, was confined to the palace by the new king Tancred of Sicily due to her backing Princess Constance aunt of William II to ascend the throne.

At the end of the 15th century the building fell into disrepair after being privately bought. The estate was rebought in 1635 and the buyer, Giovanni de Sandoval(cousin to the Viceroy of Sicily) was given the palace for free due to its poor state.[3] The palace remained in the hands of the Sandoval family until 1808, when it was eventually left to ruin once again. From 1808 to the 1950s the building was used a residence by the princes Notarbartolo di Sciara.[4] In the 1990s, the building was picked up for restoration by the . Today it is a tourist site and in July 2015 it was included in the UNESCO Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale World Heritage Site.[5]

Architectural Style[]

The structure is heavily inspired by Islamic style architecture with its featuring of rounded archways, muqarnas, and vaulted niches. In the 14th century merlons were added, by partly destroying the Arab inscription (in Kufic characters) which embellished the upper part of the building.[6] More substantial modifications were introduced in the 17th century, when the Zisa, reduced to very poor conditions, was purchased by Giovanni di Sandoval e Platamone, Marquis of S. Giovanni la Mendola, Prince of Castelreale, Lord of the Mezzagrana and the Zisa.[7] The latter's marble coat of arms with two lions can be seen over the entrance fornix. Several rooms of the interior were modified and others added on the ceiling, a great stair was built, as well as new external windows.

Building Uses[]

As the Zisa was originally built as a summer home, many of the styling choices reflect this as well. The was a pool built in the front of the building that through the interior into the main hall. The architect chose to use thicker material for building and smaller windows to keep a stable internal temperature. The castle had a fully functional air conditioning system that allowed airflow throughout the whole of the building that was heavily inspired by Egyptian and Mesopotamian architectural styles and the architect also made the conscious choice to build the building facing towards the ocean.

Usage of thick building material and small windows for temperature control

Gallery[]

  • La Zisa, c. 1880

  • Niche with fountain in the main hall

  • The hall on the second floor

  • Niche with murquanas

  • Garden and fountain

  • Crupi, Giovanni (1849-1925)

  • Castello della Zisa (1892)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Christopher Gravett (1 July 2007). History of Castles, New and Revised. Lyons Press. ISBN 9781461749295.
  2. ^ A Companion to Medieval Palermo: The History of a Mediterranean City. Leiden; Boston : Brill. 2013. ISBN 9789004252530.
  3. ^ "Zisa". Photo Archive. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Zisa Early medieval hunting castle in the Arab Norman style". Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Zisa Palace, Palermo - UNESCO".
  6. ^ "The Zisa of Palermo - Qantara". Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  7. ^ Filippo Puglia (24 May 2018). Castello della Zisa (in Italian). Youcanprint. ISBN 9788827831984.

Bibliography[]

  • Giuseppe Bellafiore: La Zisa di Palermo, Flaccovio, Palermo, 1994.
  • Donald Matthew: The Norman Kingdom of Sicily, Cambridge University Press, 1992.
  • John Julius Norwich: The Normans in Sicily: The Normans in the South 1016-1130 and the Kingdom in the Sun 1130-1194, Penguin, 1992.
  • Seindal, René. 2003. "Zisa: Early Medieval Hunting Castle in the Arab Norman Style". http://sights.seindal.dk/ sight/76_Zisa.html.
  • “La Zisa - Palermo, Italy.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 29 Nov. 2013, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-zisa.
  • "La Zisa". 1997. Storia dei Monumenti Siciliani Website. http://www.grifasi-sicilia.com/monumpalermo1.htm
  • "Palazzo della Ziza". Le Normands: Peuple d'Europe Website. http://www.mondes-normands.caen.fr/angleterre/ Patrimoine_architectural/Italie/sicile/palazzi/1154_1189/38/index.htm.
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