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Tirrenia building history and interior decoration |
The building's interiors, furnishings and decors are due largely to the restoration commissioned by Sirignano between 1889 and 1890.
The grand staircase leading to the piano nobile or main floor, is the set-piece that gives the building its character, thanks to the originality and modernity of its design and construction. It has features sculpted by Francesco Jerace, still in Neo-Renaissance style, in a more controlled academic manner, and other parts by his brother Vincenzo, with a more refined, floral elegance.
Now linked to modern Art Nouveau, are two bas-reliefs depicting Flora and Fauna, and the two Vincenzo Jerace vases, signed in marble underneath and placed where the stairwells join with the charming balustrade.
Important renovations by skilled local cabinet makers were also made in several rooms on the main floor.
A prominent role was assigned to Gennaro Cangiullo (father of the most famous of the Neapolitan 'futurists', Francesco), creator of the sumptuous wood inlays in the dining room, where the main feature is Emilio Franceschi's chimneybreast in wood. The inlays are in a taste oscillating between Neo Renaissance and the floral inclinations found in the sought after restorations skilfully carried out by Ignazio Perricci in the ballroom (nowadays the Tirrenia board room).
Many of the fresco decors in the private rooms, now lost, were commissioned by the Prince of Sirignano, and realized by Luigi Maria Foschini and Edoardo Dalbono, one of the most respected artists of the time.
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Tirrenia is well known not just as the biggest shipping company in southern Italy, and one of the biggest ferry lines in Europe, but also for its headquarters, still referred to by Neapolitans as "palazzo Sirignano". Since the names of places and buildings may carry for years and even centuries references that have long since died, it may take a few decades before the name Tirrenia takes the place of the present and undoubtedly more charming name of Sirignano. But Tirrenia, who must be credited for having saved the building's historic memories from complete destruction, and having restored the building's internal and external decors, by re-establishing its historic-architectural prominence among the most distinguished buildings of the aristocratic Riviera di Chiaia in Naples, wants to take a further step forward towards a complete identification between its company business and the artistic heritage that for various reasons, it finds itself to be the owner of. And here it presents itself in a role different to that of its institutional attire: that of art collector.
The great eighteenth century salons - today completely restored thanks to the recuperative works commissioned by Tirrenia - have been chosen as the exhibition site for a series of works that bear witness to the endurance of a relationship with art whose origins coincide with the birth of the company itself.
Having gathered together the works that remained in the Group's possession, it is my sincere hope that this will constitute a sort of moral duty that in the future will prevent the dispersal that has unfortunately befallen a significant part of the artistic heritage of the amateur grouping that Tirrenia was part of.
It is my personal wish for the future that the Tirrenia Group preserves and strengthens its position of prominance that it has had and has in the maritime economy of the country and that its business affairs shall continue to be closely linked to the palazzo that is its home, and to the treasures it guards.
Knight of Commerce Franco Pecorini
Managing Director of
Tirrenia di Navigazione S.p.A. |
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Since 1937 Tirrenia di Navigazione has been based in one of the most famous buildings in Naples, on the Riviera di Chiaia, which itself has been the preferred dwelling zone for noble families and their residences, ever since the eighteenth century.
The history of this building stretches back to the sixteenth century. In 1535, with the concession from Emperor Charles V, and the legal authorization of the Viceroy Pedro de Toledo, Don Ferdinando Alarcon, Marquis of the Valle and captain of the Spanish army, had the building constructed in Renaissance style with the main entrance facing the Chiaia shoreline, and a quadrangular tower for the defence of the building and surrounding area against attack by Saracen pirates.
The first alterations, based on designs by the architect Fausto Niccolini, were effected when the building was chosen by Leopold of Bourbon, the Count of Syracuse, as his family residence. Further radical changes were made from 1889 on, when the building was passed on to the Prince Caravita di Sirignano.
These works, designed and supervised by Francesco Chioccarelli and Ettore Vitale, involved the complete restructuring of the exteriors in a Neo-Renaissance style, even as far as the dividing off of the facade and the main entrance, and the renovation of much of the interior, with furnishing and decors in the refined and up to date floral taste of the time.
After being sold in 1917 by the son of the Prince's first wife, the building was finally taken over by Società Anonima Tirrenia di Navigazione and was given some much needed renovation work.
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