Palazzo Grilli - De Capite

Palazzo Grilli-De Capite on Sulmona's Corso Ovidio has an elaborate Baroque facade, with sculpted portals, shell motifs and heraldry recalling the families associated with the building.

Why it matters

The palace illustrates the role of aristocratic residences in Sulmona's reconstruction after the earthquake of 1706. Its decoration combines Roman Baroque influences with a regional tradition of stone carving; craftsmen from Pescocostanzo are considered possible contributors.

What to notice

Decoration gathers around two portal-and-window groups, contrasting with the quieter central bays. Pilasters, volutes and shell-shaped details enrich the openings, while balconies introduce changes of depth along the facade. The Grilli and De Capite arms above the left portal were recreated in 2006 using the Grilli palace in Pescocostanzo as a model. The Corvi arms appear above the right portal.

Context and history

The building preserves architectural elements of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The Grilli family acquired and rebuilt it after the 1706 earthquake. In 1887 part passed to Clementina Grilli and her husband Filippo De Capite. Later alterations added further portals and ornamental details, so the facade combines its Baroque core with nineteenth- and twentieth-century changes.