ABSTRACT

The Palace “Carafa di Maddaloni” is an example of 17^th century architecture which characterizes the historic center of Naples. The construction started in 1580 on land owned by the Pignatelli’s of Monteleone and monks Olivetani for the will of Cesare D'Avalos, marquis of Vasto, and continued over the next two centuries with the Marquis of Torella and the Dukes Carafa of Maddaloni, who bought the Palace in 1656. In the second half of ninenteenth century the owners were: The Prince Monaco of Araniello, The Count Garzilli, The Duchess Gaetani of Miranda and Mr. Cavalier Del Prato. Today the building is divided in different ownership. Throughout the centuries many human changes and damage have followed caused by the events of the Second World War and, later, by the earthquake that hit Irpinia and Basilicata in 1980. The post-war reconstruction made the most significant architectural changes. During the War, in fact, two bombs hit the building falling on the central part of the side overlooking via Senise and on the wing parallel to via Toledo overlooking the inner courtyard. The part of the building destroyed was reconstructed taking advantage of the considerable height of the floors and adding two floors, in order to obtain more usable area. The transformation is clearly visible from the comparison between the east and west façades looking onto the courtyard: following the reconstruction the bombed had lost any historical and architectural reference with the rest of the building. Parole chiave/Key-words: Cultural heritage, Restoration, Project, Naples, Architecture