Palazzo Forcella De Seta: A Seaside Palace of Eclectic Styles

Palazzo Forcella De Seta is located along Palermo's Mediterranean seafront in the historic Kalsa quarter. The palace is built on the remnants of the Porta dei Greci (1553), and overlooks the Foro Italico. Originally, the site held a seaside villa (casina a mare) owned by the Bonanno family. This villa suffered damage during the 1820 revolutions. In 1833, Marchese Enrico Carlo Forcella purchased the property and commissioned its reconstruction. Architects Nicolò Puglia and Emmanuele Palazzotto oversaw the project, blending Romanesque, Moorish, Gothic, and Neoclassical styles. The palace interiors included the "Sala dell’Alhambra", an octagonal room, and the "Sala dei Mosaici", drawing inspiration from medieval art and architecture. The Sala dell’Alhambra and the octagonal room showcased Moorish style with Arab decorations, polychrome stucco, colorful marble floors, and a fountain inspired by the Alhambra gardens. The Sala dei Mosaici featured reproductions of mosaics from Arab-Norman royal palaces in Palermo, particularly those from King Roger’s Palatine Chapel. Architect Giuseppe Patricolo designed the neo-Gothic facade on Piazza Kalsa with pointed-arched windows. In the early 20th century, Marchese Francesco De Seta acquired the palace and commissioned Onofrio Tomaselli to create the fresco "Trionfo della Primavera" in the neoclassical hall. The palace became a hub of the Palermitan Belle Époque. From 1937 to 1940, it housed the Mediterranea gallery. Today, Palazzo Forcella De Seta is owned by the Associazione di Costruttori Edile ed Affini di Palermo (ANCE Palermo).