14 bedrooms palace, 500 m²

Sala Consilina, Salerno (province)

Cilento

At Via Costantino Gatta 4, in the old historical center of Sala Consilina, the last outpost of the town before embarking on the road leading to the Norman castle, stands Palazzo de Petrinis. The building dates back to the seventeenth century (A.D. 1604), expanded in the eighteenth century. As one enters, it is preceded on the left side by a large garden overlooking the underlying Silvio Pellico street. The garden is embellished with a genuine well dating back to 1853.
Above the main entrance, the family's aristocratic character is attested by a coat of arms featuring a double-headed eagle between two volutes. The stone pavement from Padula leading to the stables and, consequently, from the entrance staircase to the upper floor emphasizes the wealth of the lineage.
The entire building complex covers an area of about 1000 square meters and was constructed, presumably, during the arrangement of the medieval city walls, traces of which still remain in the vicinity.
The historical significance of the palace goes beyond its architectural beauty and the substantial number of rooms. It served as the residence of distinguished individuals who actively contributed to the Italian Risorgimento.
On the ground floor, at the beginning of the square in front of the building and on the right side upon entering (with the garden on the left), there are rooms of approximately the same size used as stables and warehouses.
Gerolamo de Petrinis played a significant role in the Carbonari uprising of 1820, was associated with the "Giovine Italia," and led the citizens of Vallo di Diano against the Bourbons in 1848. His son, Giuseppe de Petrinis, faced political persecution after the upheavals of 1848 and served as captain of the National Guard from 1860.
The historical significance of the palace is further enhanced by the fact that the De Petrinis family hosted Giuseppe Garibaldi for a day or two as he traveled the peninsula with his Thousand during the Italian unification. After landing in Sapri, stopping at the fort of Lagonegro, and staying overnight in Casalbuono, Garibaldi had lunch in Sala Consilina on September 5, 1860. It was here that the Insurrectional Committee declared the fall of the Bourbon dynasty and inaugurated the Unitary Government in the name of Vittorio Emanuele and the dictatorship of General Garibaldi.
A plaque on the exterior of the palace, placed in 1906, commemorates Garibaldi's visit in 1860. In the courtyard of the same palace, another plaque was placed in 1960, reflecting on the first centenary of the event.
The palace, still preserving traces of ancient opulence (spacious halls, ceilings with exquisite Pompeian-style paintings, expansive kitchens, oil mills, huge basins with monograms, etc.), also served as the Court of Assizes of Sala Consilina in the post-war period. It had the privilege of hearing the masterful speeches of the eminent lawyer and jurist Prof. Alfredo de Marsico, a native of Sala Consilina.