Church of the Jesuit College

The church of the Jesuit College, the largest baroque church of Ortigia, was dedicated to St. Joseph and Ignatius of Loyola (who was the founder of the Jesuit Order). Designed in 1635, the monastery was restored by Pompeo Picherali, after the devastating earthquake of 1693.

At the end of Eighteenth century, following the expulsion from Siracusa of the Jesuit order from Bourbon regime, the College passed to Siracusa government authorities, who closed the Church and used it first as headquarters of the City Court and then as Tax Authority’ office. Currently the Church, waiting for restoration, is closed to visitors.

The Church of the Jesuit College has a beautiful Baroque façade placed on a short churchyard surrounded by a beautiful wrought iron gate, Corinthian decorations and a bas-relief on the top of the portal depicting a boyish face surrounded by floral garlands.