History
The Genio (Genius) is an emblem of Palermo: it is a mythological figure (perhaps from the pre-Roman era), identified with the genius loci, the tutelary deity of the city. He is depicted as an elderly man with a long, split beard and a crown on his head; his body is muscular, and he is nursing a snake at his chest.
There are several depictions of him scattered throughout the city: seven are sculptures (two of which are fountains), two are frescoes, and another is a mosaic located at the entrance to the Palatine Chapel. The statue of the Genio at Palazzo Pretorio bears the Latin inscription: Panormus conca aurea suos devorat alienos nutrit (Palermo golden shell devours its own and nourishes strangers). This motto-like trope suggests a possible descent of the Genio from Cronus or Saturn, who devoured their own children and is a symbol of fullness and abundance.
The known monumental representations are listed below:
- Genio del Porto (Genius of the Port), a marble high-relief located at the entrance to the port of Palermo.
- Genio di Palazzo Pretorio, called Palermu u nicu (Palermo the small) in Sicilian.
- Genio del Garraffo, called Palermu lu granni (Palermo the great) in Sicilian, a sculpture created by Pietro de Bonitate at the end of the 15th century. It is located in the Vucciria market.
- Genio di Piazza Rivoluzione (Genius of Revolution Square). A 16th-century sculpture, placed on the fountain in Piazza Rivoluzione.
- Genio di Villagrazia, or di Villa Fernandez. A sculptural relief from the late 17th century, placed over the entrance to Villa Fernandez.
- Genio dell'Apoteosi di Palermo (Genius of the Apotheosis of Palermo), the central character of the fresco L'Apoteosi di Palermo (1760), painted by Vito D'Anna in the ballroom of Palazzo Isnello.
- Genio della chiesa del Gesù (Genius of the Church of Jesus), appears in the fresco on the right wall of the chapel of Santa Rosalia.
- Genio di Villa Giulia, a marble sculpture (1778) by Ignazio Marabitti, located at the center of the fountain in Villa Giulia.
- Genio del Mosaico (Genius of the Mosaic), a mosaic panel placed above the entrance door of the Palatine Chapel at Palazzo dei Normanni.
An additional depiction of the Genio di Palermo exists: a tapestry located in the weapons room of Palazzo Comitini.
In December 2021, the Genio di Palermo was inscribed in the REIS (Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily) as a "symbol of the deep identity of Palermo and its citizens."
