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Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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The Palazzo Granafel
Nervegna
Brindisi, Italy
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Currency Converter
In
Italy, remnants of
history are everywhere.
Take this palace for
instance.
On top of what used to be a
prestigious Roman "domus," a grain merchant family from Constantinople built
this large residence in 1565.
The Turks had invaded their
own city, and Ferdinand of Aragon gave incentives to those who might repopulate
Brindisi, so the Granafels relocated here in Italy.
The Nervegna family bought
the palace in 1862 when the Granafel
family decided to move again.
The palace is now home to the
Brindisi tourist office, a cafe, a bookshop,
exhibition spaces, and the
archaeological remains of that same Roman house from
centuries ago.
It
is also known for housing the uppermost decorative element of the Roman columns that marked the end of the
Appian
Way
at the
Brindisi Harbor.
Roman archway in front of the Palace dates
back to 100BC
The Nervegna brothers were also merchants.
They transported agricultural products throughout the Adriatic Sea from the
port of Brindisi. Today,
the Palazzo Granafei Nervegna is a public building that hosts exhibitions,
and both cultural and artistic events.
Nuovo Teatro Giuseppe Verdi behind the
Roman arch
On the other side from the palace is the New
Theater in Brindisi, which apparently has great acoustics. Quite modern on the
inside, it shows contemporary history as a contrast to the Roman arch and
Medieval palace just across the street.
The front of the Palace
The front of the Palace is an example of
Renaissance architecture in Brindisi.
By 1880 this Palace had 20 ground floor rooms, 20 first floor
rooms and 20
second floor rooms plus a garden.
Just as an aside - in Italy, what we would
call the first floor, they call the ground floor. What we would call the second
floor, they call the first floor and so on.
Notice the little piazza in front of the
Palace.
From the piazza in front of the Palace
This shot is taken from the piazza in front
of the Palace looking out.
You see the Roman archway and the New Theater
from a different angle.
Italy likes their green spaces and often have
park benches set up for pedestrians to enjoy. So this is a nice area to rest
from a walk or bike ride.
Cronus, a Greek god
In Greek mythology, Cronus was the king of
the Titans.
A Titan is a child of Father Sky (Uranus) and
Mother Earth (Gaia). So Cronus was King of the Kids of the gods.
He was known for his ruthless reign and
devouring his own children to prevent a prophecy of being overthrown.
Nice guy, huh?
Powerful and fearsome, he
is sometimes depicted with a beard and long hair.
Reproduction of the Torre Cavallo Crest
Initially commissioned by King Charles I of
Anjou, The construction of the Horse Tower ended in 1301. It served as a
lighthouse in a dangerous area to help sailors navigate to shore.
Here on this reproduction of the coat
of arms of the tower, you'll see a rendition of the Eucharist on the left. The
two towers are the Roman columns of the Appian Way, a symbol of the city of
Brindisi.
It wasn't long before the tower itself became
damaged.
A bench in the museum section of the
palace
Brindisi has a rich literary history and this
bench is a symbolic connection to knowledge and
learning.
The Granafei family were patrons of the arts
and sciences, so this piece is a nod to their intellectual legacy also.
This bench was donated to the museum by the
Mele family.
Akaisha sitting on the bench
Here I am sitting on this same bench that was
donated to the museum.
On the other side of the wall are the
original Roman column structures and the information boards with photos
explaining the repair and relocation of these columns.
An original section of the Roman Appian
Way column.
Behind this piece of original Roman column you will see a photo of the inner
harbor of Brindisi. On the left of the column in the photo is the
Monument
dedicated to the Naval soldiers who lost their lives in both WWI and
WWII.
In November of 1528, one of the two initial columns fell
to the ground. The column drums of this fallen column were moved to
Lecce in 1657.
This was done out of thanksgiving for the city's patron saint interceding to
stop the plague that had taken Brindisi.
The "lending" of the Roman column was also to
signify the two cities' connection to the history of powerful Rome.
A closer look at the top of the column
This photo gives you a closer look at the
detail carved into the white marble column.
In 1940 air raids from WWII put these columns
in danger so they dismantled the surviving column to protect it.
Finally, in 2007 the remaining column was transferred
to this palace while the one that remains at the end of the Appian way has parts
of it replicated in plaster.
The relocation of the column here to the
museum was to protect it from the salt air which would continue to have etched
its way into the stone, dissolving it.
When you consider how old these pieces of art
are, it's amazing that they have lasted so long in tact.
Remains of the Roman home
Underneath the palace were found ruins of a Roman "domus"
that dates back to the 1st or
2nd century.
Because fragments of frescos and a mosaic flooring
were also found, these objects
indicated that this domus was a prominent private home.
At the time this home was occupied, it was
the thriving Roman town of Brundisium with an international
port of trade. The
area was also famous for thermal waters which the Romans used to benefit their
health.
As you can see above, there was a well carved
into the ground for fresh water.
The coat of arms of Brindisi, Italy
The coat of arms
features a cross, a crown, and a laurel wreath.
The cross is a symbol of hope and salvation, the crown represents
royalty and power, and the laurel wreath is a symbol of victory and triumph.
The
coat of arms of Brindisi was first adopted in the 13th century, and it has been
used by the city ever since.
The design of the coat of arms has changed slightly
over the centuries, but the basic elements have remained the same.
If you are in the city of
Brindisi, take some time to view the Granafel-Nervegna Palace.
It truly blends centuries
of history all in one place.
__________
Granafel-Nervegna Palace
Via Duomo, 20
Brindisi, Italy
Open Monday to Saturday 9.00-18.00;
Sunday 9.00-15.30
For more stories, photos and videos of
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About the Authors
Retire
Early Lifestyle appeals to a different
kind of person – the person who prizes their
independence, values their time, and who doesn’t
want to mindlessly follow the crowd.
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