Palazzo Legari

Palazzo Legari is a Renaissance residence in Alessano, built in 1536 by Donato Legari, a merchant from Tricase. Its facade inscription records its date and builder, while its former role as a place for gatherings contrasts with its present civic use as the municipal library and historical archive.

Why it matters

The palace belongs to the sixteenth-century historic centre of Alessano, alongside the houses of the Orso and Sangiovanni families. The municipal account describes it as a setting for banquets, feasts and games hosted by the local nobility and upper bourgeoisie. The Comune acquired the building in 1986 and now uses it for the public library and historical archive.

What to notice

The facade combines a round-arched portal on pilasters with capitals, four arched windows on the ground floor and architraved windows on the piano nobile. A projecting cornice and a row of small hanging arches on corbels crown the elevation. The Latin inscription of 1536 identifies the building’s date and Donato Legari’s role in its construction.

Context and history

Legari was a merchant native of Tricase. In the sixteenth century, his family residence served a social role that included meetings, banquets and games. Its architectural details place it among the Renaissance palaces of Alessano’s historic centre. Municipal ownership since 1986 has given the palace a civic function as a library and archive.