Palazzo Ducale di Alessano

The Ducal Palace of Alessano occupies a side of Piazza Castello. Its fortified mass and tall fifteenth-century windows, marked with the sixteen-pointed star of the Del Balzo family, reflect its transformation from defensive nucleus to noble residence.

Why it matters

The palace grew from an older defensive structure and was extensively altered over time. The national architectural catalogue dates a principal building phase to 1493. The municipal inventory associates its large windows with the architectural orbit of Giuliano da Maiano, while the carved Del Balzo stars record the family's connection to the building.

What to notice

The square plan and heavy walls preserve the fortified character of the palace. Its tall paired windows, or finestroni, have pilasters with capitals bearing the sixteen-pointed star. A staircase in Lecce stone and a sequence of halls belong to the interior, which is not regularly open to the public.

Context and history

The palace was built under the Del Balzo family and later associated with the Gonzaga, whose name survives in the local alias Palazzo Gonzaga. The precise date of the transfer to the Gonzaga is disputed in the sources, so no year is stated. The building remains privately owned and protected by the heritage superintendency. Its historical phases are documented more clearly than its present interior use.