The Palazzo Della Zisa

" il palazzo della zisa , where demons guard an ancient

treasure . Ph. Franco Torcellan on flickr "

THE HAUNTED CASTLE OF ITALY

THE PALAZZO DELLA ZISA in breathtaking 'palermo' has a beautiful legend of love standing
behind his construction, but also... demons residings within it's walls.

First things first: the Palazzo della zisa was built in 1775 by William I of Sicily within the Royal
Norman Park. Along with the "Cuba" another outstanding building in Palermo Palazzo della
lisa is one of the example of Arab - Norman architecture in the city. The legend says that a
Lybian prince fell in love with a princess, but their liason was obstacled by the families and they
to fled to Palermo. Here the prince, Azel Comel had brought a large part of his father riches,
which is he hide in a palace he had built for his lover, El-Aziz hence the name "La Zisa".

But when the girl got to know her mother died of pain after her disappearance, the event took
a turn for the worst. Apparently, the treasure stolen by Azel Comel is still inside the palace,
guarded by a legion of demons we can painted on the ceiling of the Sala della Fontana.
Legends says the spell keeping them there can be broken only on 25th March, day of the
annunciation, by counting their exact number... it seems easy, but it is said the fiendish figures
start moving around, making it impossible to reach the right number.

More than the idea of little devils moving around ceiling, is that of a heard of evil spirits
residing in the palace that unsettled me.