spazio al lavoro
Palermo, Italy
JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE REBIRTH OF A HISTORIC TREASURE
Witness the revival of a Baroque masterpiece in the heart of Palermo’s ancient quarter, where centuries of art, rebellion, and resilience converge.
Spazio al Lavoro stands proudly on Via dell’Alloro, a street once lined with aristocratic palaces in La Kalsa—one of Palermo’s oldest and most storied neighborhoods. Its name, derived from the Arabic “Al-Khalesa” (“the chosen”), reflects the district’s medieval prestige as a center of Arab-Norman power. Today, the palazzo embodies Palermo’s layered history, from its 17th-century grandeur to its wartime scars and modern rebirth. Surrounded by winding alleys, vibrant markets, and traces of Arab, Norman, and Spanish influence, La Kalsa remains a living testament to Sicily’s cultural crossroads—a place where past and present collide.
A Journey Through Time: The Restoration and Revival of a Noble Residence
Built in the 17th century by the Carretto family, Palazzo Castrofilippo passed through the hands of Sicilian nobility—the Lombardo, Morreale, and Valguarnera dynasties—before falling into decay. Bombed in WWII and left abandoned for decades, its frescoes faded and its columns stolen, the palace seemed lost to time. Yet, through European Urban restoration programs and private efforts, it has been meticulously revived. Today, it blends residential lofts, coworking spaces (Neu Noi), and offices, while its courtyards whisper tales of aristocracy, activism, and artistic resistance.
Explore Our Revitalized Testbed Through Images
