IT
EN
Some instructions require us to cross a distance. Others also invite us to travel through time, tracing events and changes of ownership intertwined across generations. Palazzo Nicotera required both.
When I was instructed, there had been attempts to sell the palazzo for a long time. A person I have always held in high regard, and still do, brought me into this story. Their trust played an important part in my decision.
I worked in Rome; the property was in Lamezia Terme. I admit that the distance gave me some reservations. The building’s significance, its history and the complexity of its documents called for presence, dedication and knowledgeable professionals.
But I felt I could not say no to that person.
A palazzo to understand before presenting it
The palazzo’s name is linked to Baron Guglielmo Nicotera da Nicastro, a patriot of the Italian Risorgimento who commissioned its construction.
Opposite the town hall, between Piazza San Giovanni, Piazza Francesco Stocco and Corso Numistrano, the building contains residential rooms, old shops and an inner courtyard. Views on several sides and entrances from the squares connect it to the fabric of the town.
The difference in elevation between Piazza San Giovanni and Corso Numistrano creates a distinctive feature: rooms on an upper floor when approached from the square are already at street level on the corso.
Among the features I saw for myself, the internal staircase struck me: it could also be traversed on horseback. In the architecture of this noble residence, it gave tangible expression to a way of living far removed from our own.
The principal floor, the rooms with main and service entrances, the upper rooms and the terrace revealed how the palazzo was organised. The shops, also mentioned in old documents, preserved the memory of its connection to the town’s commercial life.
Facades, materials and a story handed down
The facade on Corso Numistrano was rendered, while the masonry at the rear remained visible: “rapillu”, with river stones lending it its characteristic texture. This contrast revealed both the palazzo’s public face and the substance of its construction.
A story handed down locally accompanied that contrast. It was said that the facade on the corso had been rendered to honour the passage of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies during a journey through Calabria. The part outside the sovereign’s route was said to have retained its original appearance.
A piece of local memory that accompanied the visit, alongside the history that could be reconstructed from the documents.
Looking closely at the palazzo, I noticed further details: the cornice articulated by brackets, the window surrounds and the metal railings adorned with scrolls and interlacing patterns. Inside, arches, niches and vaults offered glimpses of the masonry; in other rooms, floors decorated with floral rosettes and geometric borders preserved the aesthetic taste of the period.
More than a century and a half of transfers
The negotiation was very complex. The documents reflected more than a century and a half of ownership history, with intricate transfers to reconstruct and connect carefully.
While unravelling that tangle, I met Vittoria, a highly knowledgeable young lawyer with whom I established a valuable collaboration. Her expertise and rigorous approach supported the work needed to move forward.
I also met Claudio, the architect working on the palazzo: a professional of rare elegance in his manner, whose knowledge of the property helped us understand the building.
Before completion, we had to read the papers, connect the events and handle every stage precisely. The quality of the collaboration was essential.
Staying in Tiriolo, a vancale in my suitcase
By then Covid had arrived, bringing the travel restrictions and difficulties we all remember.
During the trip, unable to find accommodation in Lamezia, I stayed in Tiriolo. There I met a woman who wove traditional Calabrian shawls by hand.
I stopped to watch her. Her movements showed patience, skill and familiarity with knowledge preserved over time.
Of course, I bought a vancale.
I had travelled to take care of the palazzo, but I was beginning to know the region through its people and their work too.
One appointment
After a long wait, just one appointment was enough to lead to the sale.
It is the most immediately striking fact about this experience. Behind that meeting, however, lay the study of the documents, knowledge of the rooms, discussions between professionals and the work required to guide such an intricate negotiation.
The viewing was decisive. Completion called for the same attention throughout every subsequent stage.
Being there on the day of completion
The signing would take place in Calabria, while travel restrictions were still in force.
It mattered to me to be there. I had followed the process that far and wanted to accompany it to its conclusion.
The notary’s notice of the appointment enabled me to travel. I arranged to arrive by train and fly home, all on the same day.
Vincenzo, a local taxi driver I had never met before, accompanied me.
He welcomed me when the train arrived, took me to the notary’s office outside Lamezia, waited until the signing was complete and then drove me to the airport.
His attentiveness brought calm to a demanding day. I felt protected, as though I had a brother beside me. I remember his quiet helpfulness, expressed through practical gestures.
What I brought home
I returned from this experience with a completed sale and many encounters to remember: the trust of the person who introduced me to the palazzo, Vittoria’s expertise and Claudio’s elegance.
And then the woman in Tiriolo, her vancale, and Vincenzo, who accompanied me until my departure with unforgettable care.
Palazzo Nicotera left me with the satisfaction of completing a complex journey. Calabria left me with the memory of the people who were part of it.
I love the people of Calabria.
Maria Ippoliti · ClouCasa®
Every property has a story. Yours deserves to be told well.