The persistence of palazzi and intra-urban structures in Tuscany and Sicily

Abstract

The persistence of old buildings in historic town centres raises important questions for urban geographers. Do they obstruct changes in function dictated by economic forces? Are they redeveloped when the capital invested in them has been amortized? Can descendants of the original owners afford to live in them, maintain them in good repair and adopt them to new uses? Are new owners willing to take them over, preserve their appearance and find profitable uses for them? A study of palazzi in Florence and Catania discusses differences in the changing utilization of former upper-class residences. In Florence a large number of palazzi built by merchants in the pre-industrial period have persisted in the present town centre. While many are still lived in by upper-class families, most have added new central urban functions. In Florence palazzi retain a dominant role in the intra-urban structure. In Catania palazzi built by feudal landowners have been abandoned by upper-class occupants and have failed to attract high-ranking urban functions. The historic town centre has decayed while central functions have moved to expensive modern buildings mostly situated on the outskirts. Different economic ideas and attitudes held by the upper classes in Tuscany and in Sicily account for contrasts in the roles of palazzi in the two towns.