Palazzo dell'Annunziata

The Palazzo dell'Annunziata is a historical building in Matera, Italy. The Palazzo was constructed in 1735 by architect Vito Valentino for the Rome Pontifical Commission. This can be inferred by the Convention between the Dominican nuns and the same Valentino, who, because of the urgency, makes an effort to finish the work in five years. In 1734 the project is ready, in 1735 the works already proceed quickly, but soon the first difficulties are known: the building area on which the foundations rest is too deep: indeed it reaches about 15 meters (49 ft). The front is built on the sixteenth-century tower, belonging to the fortifications of Count Tramontano. A strong quarrel between the administrator of the Dominican nuns and the architect Valentino starts so that in 1739 the works are suspended and Valentino is dismissed. The chronicles do not say anything about the causes of this dismissal. The hypothesis may be the delay of the work or the acquisition of other tasks by Valentino, who thus violates the agreements that forbid him to take on other commitments.