Palazzo Pica Alfieri Palazzo Pica Alfieri Palazzo Pica Alfieri Palazzo Pica Alfieri

PALAZZO PICA ALFIERI

In 1265 Charles I of Anjou started the reconstruction of L’Aquila that he won from King Manfredi of Sicily. The town, that King Charles considered one of the most important of his realm, was severely damaged during the long war between Svevia and Anjou. This was the time that the first building works were carried out on the site of the future Palazzo Pica Alfieri. This housing complex, known until the 15th Century as Case Nuove, underwent a series of embellishments and alterations, changing several owners over the centuries. First, it was the residence of the powerful family of Lalle Camponeschi. Then, from 1489 to 1496, the property was taken over by the Lords of the Chamber of L’Aquila in exchange for unpaid debt. In 1493, Queen Giovanna of Aragon and Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, took residence here during their visit to L’Aquila. Later on, with the help of the King of Naples, Ludovico Franchi, Earl of Montorio, obtained the possession of the palace. He begun a renovation and refurbishment programme, but already in 1527 the Carafa family, a prominent Neapolitan family linked to the former proprietors, became the new owners of the palace, by then known as the Palazzo del Conte. During the 16th Century, the palace was mostly linked to the Colonna family, first of all to Prospero in 1568, until another Colonna, the Prince of Gallicano, sold the property to the Barberini family. It was during the year 1685 that the palace passed into the hands of the family that has kept the property until modern times, with Ludovico Alfieri. The building was heavily damaged by the earthquake in 1703 and the Alfieri family renovated and restored it to its former glory embellishing it with new additions, all at their own expenses. At the end of the 18th century, Eusebia Alfieri, great grand-daughter of Ludovico, married Giannantonio Pica, who inherited the properties and the family name of his wife.