Palazzo Campisi
From the austerity of the exterior to the elegance of the interior
The façade of the building, in the warm color of sandstone, is simple but orderly, divided into three levels, each distinguished by a different treatment of the wall surface. The interior spaces reveal elegant reception rooms, painted barrel vaults, imposing wooden doors, arches, and stone portals, all skillfully restored by the bank after its acquisition.
Palazzo Campisi - Headquarters of Sicilbanca
On Corso Umberto I stands Palazzo Campisi. Built at the end of the 1800s by the local bourgeoisie and purchased in 1978 by a credit institution, it became the headquarters of the Agricultural Credit Bank, founded in 1925, later the Cooperative Credit Bank of Sambuca, and eventually Banca Sicana.
A cultural patron bank in the village
The credit institution has always played a significant cultural role in the village, establishing a rich collection of contemporary art featuring works by Alfonso Amorelli, Antonio Guarino, Vincenzo Sciamè, Nino Ciaccio, Giuseppe Vaccaro, and Gianbecchina. The bank has also promoted an important recovery initiative by acquiring the library of writers Vincenzo and Emanuele Navarro (father and son, the latter considered by literary critics to be the father of Verismo in Sicily).
The Navarrian Library, the art collections and the frescoed rooms
Inside the nisseno institute, walking through the long corridors leading to its three floors, you can admire the splendid frescoed halls by Gino Morici: the "Telegram Room," the "Presidency Room," the "Public Hall," and the "Telegraph Room." On the first floor, in the spacious ballroom, is housed the Navarrian Library. The Navarro collection consists of volumes owned by the writer, materials, pamphlets, and letters—some handwritten—that recount the Navarros' relationships with Verga, Capuana, Pirandello, Matilde Serao, and George Sand (Emanuele's companion during his Parisian stays). It also includes personal effects belonging to the writers, such as photos, stamps, medals, glasses, and personal diaries. Didactic apparatuses and video projections complete the exhibition.
Morici's flair: from the frescoes of the halls to his Hidalgo
In the last hall of the building, known as "della Presidenza", Morici's works showcase all his eclecticism. A professor of Scenography and Modeling at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Palermo, Morici was a fresco artist, scenographer, decorator, engraver, book illustrator, designer, and creator of automata and toys. He created sets, costumes, and furnishings for cinema in the 1940s and theater (Massimo and Stabile in Palermo, Bellini in Catania) in the 1950s and 1960s. He played a key role in the artistic and advertising setups for the Palermo and Messina Fairs and was the mastermind behind the Città dei Ragazzi at the Parco della Favorita in Palermo in 1958. Within Sicilian art and culture of the last century, Morici's figure and work represent identity and collective memory. With his contribution of civic values and creativity—not just artistic—Morici managed to capture classical art motifs with extreme and original synthesis, combining them with modern figurative trends from various European countries and interpreting them with an innovative sentiment, achieving a unique authenticity and expressive effectiveness. His emblematic, varied, and highly original representation of the Hidalgo stands out as a significant work. The "Hidalgo" is a dreamer and impoverished character inspired by Don Quixote, reflecting Morici's own experiences and serving as a lifelong inspiration for his artistic career. Morici's Hidalgos are mechanically perfect beings, self-portraits with baroque lines, wheels, and tubing. The bank preserves splendid examples of his oil paintings on canvas and etchings.
The musician Hidalgo: a tribute to Master Morici on the 50th anniversary of his passing
Directly in front of Palazzo Campisi stands the "Musician Hidalgo": a sculpture in iron, created by the Sambucese artist Alessandro Becchina, son of Master Gianbecchina. Commissioned by the banking institution to honor the Palermo artist Gino Morici on the 50th anniversary of his passing, the sculpture was crafted at the Comart workshops in Sambuca di Sicilia. It depicts the fantastical character, born from the poetic imagination of Gino Morici, playing the flute.
