{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1040{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1515;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 The Albergo dei Poveri is a building of Palermo, located in Corso Calatafimi n. 217.Was founded under the name of Reale Albergo dei Poveri in 1733, during the viceroyalty Austria, with the purpose of accommodating disabled poor, the crippled, the young vagabond and orphans. One of the founders was Ferdinando Francesco Gravina, Prince of Palagonia. The project was revived during the reign of Charles of Bourbon. Initially assigned to the architect Horace Ferret, the yard was then followed until the end of the work by the architects Joseph Venantius Marvuglia and Nicol\'f2 di Puglia. The construction work took start in 1746 (the first stone was laid on 24 April, and during the construction of the tombs were found Phoenicians and Carthaginians), but the work took much longer than expected, so that the structure was inaugurated only 8 August 1772 at the time of Ferdinand III, although partially incomplete. In the first courtyard promises a rectangular church, dedicated to St. Maria of the Purification, which is also the end of the seventeenth secolo. In 1898 was used as a women only and its name was changed to the Hotel Povere. Now partially belongs to the Sicilian Region and partially the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the University of Palermo is also home to temporary exhibitions. The building is organized around a central courtyard which input is to certify that: the church in the middle position, the inputs to the two most lateral porticos large courtyards , with the startup , on both sides of the church, the two monumental staircases that lead upstairs ; function of the area who had the initial reception , access to the rooms on the first floor of the administration of this area. While the central courtyard has only the arcade on the ground floor , stopped on the side of the church, the courts are side entirely porches and cover , upstairs , by arcades . A system of stone columns Billiemi is the basis of the structure of all three yards and loggias with arches in ashlar limestone molded . The prospectus, arranged along the Corso Calatafimi , is characterized by the horizontal and vertical scanning of the pilasters of the high string course , all set between a strong base (given the slope of the road the latter is visible only on the right half of the face) and a marked and projecting cornice at the summit.The median axis of the prospectus has placed the portal , framed by columns and surmounted by a balcony on the first floor of honor . The construction technique , is constituted by a system of large blocks in limestone marked to read listature joints . A more simplified approach assumes the front of rear via Cappuccini where there are the scores of the vertical pilasters and moldings of all openings are less elaborate.I side fronts , east and west are covered bodies advanced to the terrace, to the level of the first plan enclosing a central arched portico of columns pietra.Face of the church , has a slight hint of sinuosity in his profile planimetric combined with strong projection of the decorative elements (columns in the round, frames ) in high ends with the two slender steeples and the high side gable central.The building fits in stylistically that cultural transition from Baroque to Neoclassicism .\par }