D’Ayala Valva Palace

Quickly made at the end of the 19th century from the D’Ayala Valva family, the majestic building overlooking the Lungomare Vittorio Emanuele III stands out for its typical neoclassical connotations, refined with some pleasant Art Nouveau details.

The large access portal leads to the formal staircase thanks to which it was possible to reach the rooms on the first and second floors; whereas the mezzanine was used for the utility rooms.

The façade, divided into three levels, owe its particularity to the long balcony on the main floor. The balcony, enriched with a precious wrought iron balustrade, runs along its entire length which is decorated with a row of trabeated windows.

In the external courtyard there are two large pavilions (originally meant to store carriages)  embellished with friezes, sculptures and decorations.

The upper part of the buildings differs by its two rooms, but it’s still surmounted by the heraldic emblems of the family: the coat of arms of the D’Ayala family (nobles of Spanish origin) and the one of the Valva family (from Campania).

The right pavilion has the monogram “AV” on the frieze (which are the initials of the two surnames). The lateral pilasters are surmounted by dolphins and, above the frieze, there is a baroque tympanum on which stands the wolf of the D’Ayala.

The left pavilion is characterized, on the other hand, by the beautiful Renaissance-style tympanum, in whose central niche are inserted nine jackdaws arranged in two overlapped rows, five facing on the left and four (the lower ones) facing on the right.

On the side of both of the tympanums, there are some classical herms.

Palazzo D’Ayala Valva was the seat of the Prefecture of Taranto from the establishment of the Province in 1923 until the completion of the Government Palace in 1934.