De Sterlich Palace: An Aristocratic Residence and Municipal Seat in Cermignano
Site at a Glance
- Country
- Italy
- Primary era
- Early Modern
- Eras represented
- Early Modern
- Civilizations
- Kingdom of Naples, Spanish
- Site type
- Domestic
- Remains
- Elite Residence
On this page4 sections
History
De Sterlich Palace is a Baroque aristocratic residence in Cermignano, Italy, built in 1541 by Sigismondo De Sterlich over an earlier castle that had been converted into a noble home. It became the principal residence of Sigismondo, Baron of Scorrano, and now houses Cermignano’s municipal government.
The Barons of Scorrano
By the twelfth century, the Barons of Scorrano held Scorrano and Mons (Montegualtieri) as fiefs, lands held through feudal ties, and had fortified them. They also appear as owners in a Norman feudal register, a record of landholding under Norman rule in southern Italy during the Middle Ages. Cermignano probably belonged to the Da Scorrano family before passing to the De Sterlichs in the early sixteenth century.
How the De Sterlichs acquired the title of Baron of Scorrano remains uncertain. One possibility is that a marriage brought the original Scorrano branch into the De Sterlich family. Another is that the Da Scorrano line ended and its fiefs were granted to the De Sterlichs. In 1706, the family, already Barons of Scorrano and Lords of Montegualtieri, received the title of Marquis of Cermignano.
The De Sterlich residence
Sigismondo built the palace in 1541 as his principal residence. In the twentieth century it belonged to Diego de Sterlich Aliprandi, a racing driver. The building now serves as the seat of Cermignano’s municipal government.
Remains
The palace stands in Cermignano’s historic center on Via Salita Castello, opposite the church of Santa Lucia. Its principal façade displays the De Sterlich family coat of arms. Houses beside the castle were restored for use as a museum.
