The History
The Kalsa ( from Arab al-alisah), the elected, the pure, is the ancient fortified citadel where The Emir and his court lived.
The district grew over time around the same name square and around Via Alloro and from the XV century on, there were a lot of noble buildings.
The Kalsa is a place full of fascination and contradictions, and is rich in squares, monuments, old buildings and internationally renowned cultural areas.
From The church of Santa Maria dello Spasimo (where you can watch and listen to night musical shows) you can go to The church of Santa Maria della Vittoria where you can see an old wooden door and the palace called Oratorio dei Bianchi full of XVII century frescos.
In Via Torremuzza you can see a lot of interesting buildings, like the Noviziato dei Crociferi and The church of San Mattia, then you arrive in Via Alloro, rich of noble buildings; in which are terraces that offer a charming and exclusive view of the sea.
Via Alloro begins with the flyover walk popularly known as "mura delle cattive" that gave the widows (prisoners of mourning) greater confidence.
Between the Palaces of Via Alloro, in the XVII century that was the street for the aristocrats, include Palazzo Abatellis, which now houses the Regional Gallery of Sicily with some of the most beautiful sculptures of Gagini and Laurana and L’Annunciazione by Antonello da Messina, The Gancia, Baroque church with predominant stuccoes of Serpotta; Palazzo Steri, home of the most powerful family of the Chiaramonte; Bonagia Palace and The Church of St. Maria dell'Itria, also known as The Church of Nostra Signora dei Cocchieri famous for the procesLa_Magionesion that every Holy Friday icons of Jesus are carried around the quarter. The procession includes the confrati, coachmen of aristocratic families, with the livery of the house in which they serve.
The Church of NCentro_Palermoostra Signora dei Cocchieri overlooking Via Lanza, Via Alloro and Vicolo San Carlo, where were the Palaces of Lanza and Oliveri Acquaviva.
Continuing along Via Alloro it comes to Piazza Croce dei Vespri where the Palazzo Valguarnera-Gangi, which has the sumptuous interior for a dance scene of The Gattopardo Visconti's movie.
At the end of places Via Aragona you arrive in Piazza della Rivoluzione, from which took the revolt of 1848 against the Borboni, in the centre is a fountain adorned with a statue of The Genius of Palermo, which is a King feeding a snake, and it is the symbol of the city.
Continuing along Via Garibaldi other buildings surround the street such as the splendid Ajutamicristo Palace and The Church of the Magione Arab or SS. Trinity on the homonymous square.
Nearby you will find Piazza Marina, a lively centre of Palermo, with the focus on Garibaldi's garden with its magnificent Ficus Magnolias and is surrounded by beautiful buildings: Palazzo Galletti, Palazzo Notarbartolo, Palazzo Steri and Palazzo Mirto.
The district grew over time around the same name square and around Via Alloro and from the XV century on, there were a lot of noble buildings.
The Kalsa is a place full of fascination and contradictions, and is rich in squares, monuments, old buildings and internationally renowned cultural areas.
From The church of Santa Maria dello Spasimo (where you can watch and listen to night musical shows) you can go to The church of Santa Maria della Vittoria where you can see an old wooden door and the palace called Oratorio dei Bianchi full of XVII century frescos.
In Via Torremuzza you can see a lot of interesting buildings, like the Noviziato dei Crociferi and The church of San Mattia, then you arrive in Via Alloro, rich of noble buildings; in which are terraces that offer a charming and exclusive view of the sea.
Via Alloro begins with the flyover walk popularly known as "mura delle cattive" that gave the widows (prisoners of mourning) greater confidence.
Between the Palaces of Via Alloro, in the XVII century that was the street for the aristocrats, include Palazzo Abatellis, which now houses the Regional Gallery of Sicily with some of the most beautiful sculptures of Gagini and Laurana and L’Annunciazione by Antonello da Messina, The Gancia, Baroque church with predominant stuccoes of Serpotta; Palazzo Steri, home of the most powerful family of the Chiaramonte; Bonagia Palace and The Church of St. Maria dell'Itria, also known as The Church of Nostra Signora dei Cocchieri famous for the procesLa_Magionesion that every Holy Friday icons of Jesus are carried around the quarter. The procession includes the confrati, coachmen of aristocratic families, with the livery of the house in which they serve.
The Church of NCentro_Palermoostra Signora dei Cocchieri overlooking Via Lanza, Via Alloro and Vicolo San Carlo, where were the Palaces of Lanza and Oliveri Acquaviva.
Continuing along Via Alloro it comes to Piazza Croce dei Vespri where the Palazzo Valguarnera-Gangi, which has the sumptuous interior for a dance scene of The Gattopardo Visconti's movie.
At the end of places Via Aragona you arrive in Piazza della Rivoluzione, from which took the revolt of 1848 against the Borboni, in the centre is a fountain adorned with a statue of The Genius of Palermo, which is a King feeding a snake, and it is the symbol of the city.
Continuing along Via Garibaldi other buildings surround the street such as the splendid Ajutamicristo Palace and The Church of the Magione Arab or SS. Trinity on the homonymous square.
Nearby you will find Piazza Marina, a lively centre of Palermo, with the focus on Garibaldi's garden with its magnificent Ficus Magnolias and is surrounded by beautiful buildings: Palazzo Galletti, Palazzo Notarbartolo, Palazzo Steri and Palazzo Mirto.
