View source for Ex Loggia Comunale

{{Infobox Historic building
|name  = Ex Loggia Comunale
|native_name =
|image  = Ex Loggia Comunale.jpg
|caption  =the façade
|map_type =
|coordinates  = {{coord|37.98094|12.96659|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:IT}}
|location_town = [[Alcamo]]
|location_country  = [[Italy]]
|architect  = Domenico Vitale
|client =
|engineer  = |construction_start_date= 1525
|completion_date  =
|date_demolished  =
|cost =
|structural_system =
|style  =
|size  =
}}
The building of the '''ex Loggia Comunale''' is located in  [[Alcamo]], in the [[province of Trapani]].
== History ==
The citizens of [[Alcamo]] called ‘’loggia’’ the [[Town Hall]]; this custom was common in many Sicilian towns, and is also proved by several notary deeds.<ref name="roc">P.M. Rocca: Di alcuni antichi edifici di Alcamo; Palermo, tip.</ref>
Inside the Loggia, the town administrators held their meetings; the building is often mentioned in some documents dating back to 1525.<ref name=calia>Roberto Calia: I Palazzi dell'aristocrazia e della borghesia alcamese; Alcamo, Carrubba, 1997</ref>  It was rebuilt in 1548,<ref name=blas>Ignazio De Blasi: Discorso storico della opulenta città di Alcamo situata a piè del Monte Bonifato e dell'antichissima cittù di Longarico; trascrizione del manoscritto originale e realizzazione di Lorenzo Asta; Alcamo, 1989</ref> according to the design of the architect Domenico Vitale, in the same place where the old one stood.
Thanks to the suppression of the religious order by the order of the king [[Ferdinand III of Sicily]], in 1767 the ''Giurati'' moved into the [[Ex Jesuits' College|Ex Jesuits’ College]], so making use of more functional and large premises.<ref name=calia/> As a result, the loggia was completely abandoned<ref name="roc"/> and, in 1783 it was put on sale in order to devote the proceeds for the works of the new seat.<ref name=blas/>
In 1806, owing to the Jesuits’ return to Alcamo, the municipal authorities gave back the premises of the College and their seat was moved into [[Palazzo Palmerini]]<ref name=Mira>Francesco Maria Mirabella: Alcamensia noterelle storiche con appendice di Documenti inediti p.28; Alcamo, ed. Sarograf, 1931</ref> located near the [[Mother church (Alcamo)|Mother church]], the first year for rent  and later by census, according to the deed dated 3 June 1807 by the notary Vincenzo Coppola. Nobody knows how long this palace was the municipality’s seat.<ref name=Mira/>
The floor built in 1558 had already fallen down in the second half of the 18th century and part of the decorations were used in the new construction which was started in 1813. In the 20th century the owners of the lodge became the Tobia family and their heirs; in 1976 a part of the building, sold to a building contractor, was rebuilt, but its interior remained unaltered.
== Description ==
The palace was  distinguished for its [[portico]] with two [[Arcade (architecture)|arcades]], one in the Corso and the other in via Barone San Giuseppe; in the eleventh chapter of his work entitled "Discorso storico della opulenta città di Alcamo situata a piè del Monte Bonifato, e dell'antichissima città di Longarico ossia Lacarico, dopo detta Alcamo, su di esso monte" [[Ignazio De Blasi]], the famous historian from Alcamo wrote:
''la Loggia vecchia casa della città, destinata per i negozi pubblici dell'Università, e dove si convocava il pubblico consiglio per gli affari dello stato, di bellissima architettura, con vari archi e porte nel mezzo degli archi, sostenute da pilastri intagliati d'ordine dorico e ionico.<ref name="roc"/> (That is: the Loggia which was the old [[Town Hall]], intended for the public business of University, and where the Council held its meetings, of beautiful architecture, with several [[arch]]es and doors in the middle of them, sustained by carved [[pillars]] of [[Doric order|Doric]] and [[Ionian order]].)''
The [[façade]] is quite rich and imposing, with a high [[pedestal]] in shiny [[travertine]]<ref>Carlo Cataldo: Guida storico-artistica dei beni culturali di Alcamo, Calatafimi, Castellammare del Golfo, Salemi e Vita, Sarograf-Alcamo (1982)</ref> and [[lesenes]] ending with fluted [[corbels]];  the main door is located in Corso 6 Aprile: there is a [[round arch]] made with [[ashlars]]. In addition, in via Barone san Giuseppe there are four entrances on the ground floor and three balconies with stone galleries.<ref name=calia/> In the Corso there is also a big balcony with [[wrought iron]] and three entries.
== See also ==
* [[Ex Jesuits' College]]
* [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]]
* [[Ignazio De Blasi]]
== References ==
<references />
== Sources ==
* Roberto Calia: I Palazzi dell'aristocrazia e della borghesia alcamese; Alcamo, Carrubba, 1997
* Ignazio De Blasi: Discorso storico della opulenta città di Alcamo situata a piè del Monte Bonifato e dell'antichissima cittù di Longarico; trascrizione del manoscritto originale e realizzazione di Lorenzo Asta; Alcamo, 1989
* Carlo Cataldo: Guida storico-artistica dei beni culturali di Alcamo, Calatafimi, Castellammare del Golfo, Salemi e Vita, Sarograf-Alcamo (1982)
* P.M. Rocca: Di alcuni antichi edifici di Alcamo; Palermo, tip. Castellana-Di Stefano, 1905
* Francesco Maria Mirabella: Alcamensia noterelle storiche con appendice di Documenti inediti; Alcamo, ed. Sarograf, 1931
== External links ==
* http://www.alqamah.it/2014/01/29/historia-alcami-alcamo-citta-medievale-a-scacchiera/
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Alcamo]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1525]]
[[Category:16th-century establishments in Italy]]