I have already written about the Salamon Palace, a building that intrigues many visitors to Gračišće. It was built in 1570 (almost 450 years ago!) in Venetian Gothic style. Sadly, this beautiful palazzo has been abandoned for decades and is slowly rotting away.
During the recent wine fair (held every Easter Monday), one of the ground-floor rooms of the palace was used as a wine cellar. The next day I noticed the doors were left open. I couldn't resist a peek inside, so I grabbed my camera and snuck in.
Inside I found a treasure trove: stone steps, intricate railings, walls painted in beautiful patterns, French doors, Gothic windows, stone sinks, an old-fashioned fireplace, wooden floorboards, Venetian shutters, painted ceilings, a view of the village's main church... oh, and old-fashioned toilets!
This is such an achingly beautiful building and it pains me to see it deteriorate by the day. It would be wonderful if it could be restored with all its period details preserved and transformed into a heritage hotel or a museum. Wishful thinking?
See it for yourself... Take a walk through the Salamon Palace:
This is disgrace... It's the same as long as I remember and I'm not so young any more. Irresponsible owners should be accountable. But this is another story.
ReplyDeleteGvozden
I’ve followed your blog ever since ‘India outside my window’. After living an expat life for the past 17 years I’m back in Bangalore and eager to find any remanents of the charming city it once was. Your blog has inspired me to explore and rediscover the city. But much as the building you’ve described here, it saddens me too, to see so many heritage buildings crumbling from disrepair and neglect simply because the current owners don’t have the means to maintain it nor do potential buyers see any value in maintaining it as a heritage building.
ReplyDeleteHi Vanita! Thanks for sticking with me for so many years! I'm glad to hear you're back in Bangalore. Yes, I think the situation there with regard to heritage buildings is similar. But there are still a few charming pockets left so I hope you've been able to seek them out!
DeleteThat is so sad...and lovely. I love abandonned homes. What about a town work day to sweep up and see then the structure and whether the town would have funds to renew it? Is the roof intact and solid? What would the cost be to buy it? What a great project altho the bathrooms look very daunting. Each family could finance a window replacement? What could be done? 😵Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt would take a lot of funds to restore this beauty to its former glory. But I've seen other old palaces in other Croatian towns transformed. So who knows... maybe one day.
DeleteThis palace is centuries of history.
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