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abitazioni nel quartiere "Casazza"
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alcune abitazioni diroccate del quartiere
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il catino della fontana "Casazza"
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doccione di collegamento dal catino alla vasca
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l'insieme del quartiere visto da San Pantaleo
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particolare della muratura di un'abitazione
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il quartiere nella seconda metà dell'800. Si nota ancora la Via Numea che dalla campagna intoduceva alla città (ph. coll. Smriglio Zingone)
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tipica stradina dell'arroccamento medievale
Fontana e quartiere Casazza
L’appalto per la realizzazione della fontana di S. Vincenzo (Largo del Progresso), attribuito nel
La denominazione “Casazza”, quale toponimo del quartiere circostante, trae origine, più che da un presunto casello del dazio doganale, dall’omonima e suggestiva manifestazione della Settimana Santa già praticata a Palermo dalla fine del ‘500: protagonisti del rito erano i componenti delle confraternite che, radunandosi proprio nel quartiere, sfilavano paludati con sacco e cappuccio avanti al Crocefisso, recando oggetti della Passione e percuotendosi con la ‘disciplina’ (piccola frusta fatta di cuoio, canapa o metallo), azione scenica ispirata dalla controriforma e dalla teatralità barocca che si attualizza nella suggestiva “Processione dei Misteri” messa in atto il Venerdì Santo. (A. Pettineo)
Fountain and district Casazza
In 1875 the master Vincenzo Arcieri was instructed to build the fountain of St. Vincenzo ( in Largo del Progresso). The working plan included a system of clay tubes to convey the excess water of the fountain in the “new bevaio della Casazza” below; in all probability, it was to be the restoration of an older trough located in via Numea which served as a place for travellers to rest, along with their horses. Actually, it was the most important road from Antiquity to the Late Middle Ages: it started from the coastline and passing through most of the coastal lands and the Noma settlement (this area is not currently being localized), it finally got Amastrata, running along the ancient walls as far as Porta Palermo. As it was accustomed, the fountain consisted of two parts, suitable for people and cattle, respectively; in this case, the two different street levels (upstream and downstream) enhanced the fountain-sharing.
“Casazza” is the toponym of the surroundings and its name did not come from an uncertain customs station, but it is the direct homonymous of a performance that took place during the Passion Week. The religious ceremony was already performed in Palermo at the end of the 16th century; it was a parade where members of the brotherhoods wore hooded monks' robes and starting from their own district, they went on ahead the figure of Christ crucified, carrying religious symbols and whipping themselves with the "disciplina" (which was a small whip made of leather and hemp or iron). This miracle play derives from the Counter-Reformation and it was performed during the procession on Good Friday. (*)