IN THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF SORRENTO
Restored to its former splendour PALAZZO VENIERO
Palazzo Veniero represents an important heritage from the Arab-Byzantine period, not only for the town of Sorrento, but also for Southern Italian art history. This important monument, in fact, along with Salerno Cathedral, the monastic Patirion of Rossano Calabro, and tambour of the church ofSan Giovanni a Mare in Gaeta, are the only evidence of an artistic heritage linked to the history and events of a specific period in Southern Italy. Unfortunately, over the centuries this important ancient monument of Sorrento was obscured by a series of alterations that eliminated almost everything - its architectural lines, its grey and yellow decoration in tufa and the majolica pateras, changing the natural compositional continuity that justified its protection by the Italian Cultural Heritage Inspectorate.The windows, an important feature of the building, had been walled up, and various additions had altered its entire appearance. In the first few months of 2008 this historic, symbolic monument was restored to its former plendour In accordance with the express wishes of the Gargiulo family, especially Don Ciccio (Priora-Li Simoni), with exceptional speed and hardwork directed with the proficiency and renowned professionalism of a local architect, Pasinetti, and supervised by the Fine Arts Commission. After painstaking historical research the large arched windows, three on each floor, were restored to their original colours, as were the tufa fascias and tondos with central majolica pateras. The illegally-built balconywas removed, the tufa decoration of a succession of lozenges framing the windows is once again resplendent and the zigzag frieze around the central window has been restored. A building in the historic centre of Sorrento that had become unrecognisable has therefore disappeared, and in its place in Via Pietà tourists can now admire Palazzo Veniero as it once was, which after its restoration can again compete with other local monuments.
