The Ruggero Settimo Barracks in Palermo originally served as a convent of the Minim Friars of San Francesco di Paola, built outside Porta Carini in the late 16th century. With the suppression of religious orders in 1866, the convent was transformed into an infantry barracks and the cloister converted into a courtyard, with the portico arches filled in to create small rooms. Despite the transformations, the cloister still retains columns, capitals, and arches incorporated into the walls, precious evidence of the original layout and monumentality of the structure.
During some work carried out in rooms overlooking the courtyard, decorative pictorial fragments were discovered, which were subsequently restored. The project involved a targeted intervention to restore four bays of the cloister. The work included removing the marble slabs covering the original base, restoring stone elements such as bases, columns, capitals, and arches, replacing the flooring with Sicilian terracotta, installing a new lighting system, and closing four arches with steel and glass windows, enhancing the perception of the original architectural configuration.
The total cost of the project was €90,000, funded in part by the Fondazione Sicilia, which donated to the construction of the protective glass windows, and in part by the Sicilian Army Military Command, which supported the construction work. The fundraising campaign is now complete, and the work has restored the cloister to its architectural dignity and functionality, allowing a space of great historical and artistic value to be made accessible again.
The Ruggero Settimo Barracks will also open to the public on the first Sunday of each month, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to discover a site significant to Palermo's historical and artistic heritage.
Contact the representatives for more information or to express your interest.
