Overview
Established in 1582 by Viceroy Marcantonio Colonna and dedicated to Umberto I, it was the favourite promenade of Palermo's nobility and bourgeoisie. Renamed "Foro Italico" in 1860, it was the scene of festivals, processions and jousts until the end of the 19th century. Abandoned in the early 20th century and falling into decay since the post-war period, the area has long since been restored and returned to the city. Likewise, in front of the gardens facing the sea, the neoclassical Palchetto della Musica (1844), where open-air concerts are held and the stables of the eclectic 19th-century Palazzo Forcella De Seta (now owned by ANCE), where conferences and events are held, have also been restored.
