Palace Farina in Sorrento

Belonged to the Brancias, the historical building, at the beginning of the Eighteenth century was sold to Family Correale who already owned other neighbouring palaces. For this reason it was renamed Casa Nuova (New House).
In taking Vico Sant’Aniello (the lane going upwards behind the statue of Torquato Tasso, located in the square bringing the name of the famous poet from Sorrento and that some know as Vico Sopramonte) we find Palace Farina.
The building, at the end of 1600, belonged to the noble family of the Brancias, but at the beginning of the following century it was sold to Family Correale who already owned other palaces in the area (in particular the one overlooking Tasso Square itself).
This peculiarity made the palace turn its name into Casa Nuova (New House).
Originally, this stately home was characterized by the presence of an entrance portal in piperno, with the skirting-boards of the same material, surmounted by a stem of the Correales’.
These features, at present, do not exist anymore, but we can anyway admire the profile of the portal marked by a piperno belt and made with a round arch.
Though closed to the public, the palace still keeps some architectural features of great interest such as the hall, made up of three barrel-vaulted spaces located one after another.
They let in a partially closed courtyard from which various staircases start. Other staircases, instead, start from the uncovered area of the courtyard itself.
It is there that we can admire piperno cartouches and cordons.
After suffering the consequences of so many years of carelessness, the stately home has been recently consolidated and renovated, but it hasn’t been possible to find a remedy for the damages caused in the past through a more satisfying renovation work.
Also for this historical building – as well as for others in Sorrento – there is a “thriller”. In fact, nobody knows the reason why it was at first known as Palace Farina.
Nevertheless, besides having a residential function, it may have been used as a storage of flour (“farina” in Italian) from which its name it keeps still toady arousing so much curiosity.