Palazzo Di Rienzo

Palazzo Di Rienzo in Scanno is associated with the union of two earlier feudal residences, those of the D'Afflitto and Caracciolo families. Reworked in the 19th century by Francesco Di Rienzo, it has a neoclassical facade with a carved wooden portal and rows of balconies.

Why it matters

The palace reflects Scanno's transition from feudal rule to local civic and professional elites. Its history links the D’Afflitto and Caracciolo residences with later renovation by Francesco Di Rienzo. Across the street, the arrangement of openings on an older house is traditionally interpreted as a face mocking the Di Rienzo family.

What to notice

The carved wooden portal anchors the facade. Above it, the upper floors carry symmetrical rows of balconies—seven on the top floor and six on the one below. The nearby house's door, balcony and windows create the face-like composition associated with local tradition.

Context and history

In the feudal period the palace served as a seat of the Università di Scanno, the town's civic corporation. The building's later neoclassical form dates to its 19th-century renovation. Scanno's palaces and decorated stonework reflect wealth from pastoral trade and woodland commerce, which shaped the town's architecture during the 17th and 18th centuries.