Via della maestranza

Culture, Monuments, Tipical places
Via della Maestranza - 96100 Siracusa

    One of the oldest and most picturesque streets of Ortigia is via della Maestranza, characterized by noble’ s houses of Baroque appearance.

    Entering in Via della Maestranza from Piazza Archimede, you will find Palazzo Impellizzeri-Vianisi (Via della Maestranza, 17), erected in the early ‘700. Of the Palace, today transformed in shops, offices and private homes, you can admire the baroque facade (rich with floral decorations, battlements and pillars hemmed with geometric motifs) and the elegant inner courtyard overlooked by apartments internal.
    Continuing, at number 33, you will come across in the elegant Palazzo Landolina-Bonanno, also in the Baroque style, which today houses the Tourist Board of the Autonomous Province of Syracuse. The eighteenth-century building has a portal inspired to the sixteenth century and surmounted by a balcony with a beautiful curved wrought iron railing.

    In Via della Maestranza, no. 50 there is one of the most important buildings belonging to the powerful family of Syracuse Gargallo. Zappata-Gargallo Palace, dating back to 1400, was turned into eighteenth century Baroque style after the earthquake of 1693. The portal is built into a terraced structure fairly recent; the remains of an eighteenth-century staircase are the only elements of the original building that can be seen in the beautiful courtyard. In ancient times, the building (now used for private and commercial use) beyond being home of the Marquis of Zappata-Gargallo, was also used as a female orphanage.

    The visit of the Via della Maestranza continues at the largest eighteenth century baroque palace of Syracuse. Romeo-Bufardeci Palace was erected in the early 700 by the family of Romeo Magnisi and later passed to the family Bufardeci. The facade is rich of geometric and floral decorations, and of grotesque masks.

    Finally, among the beautiful Baroque buildings stands the Palazzo Impellizzeri (Via della Maestranza, 99), which guests the University of Architecture and several exhibitions of contemporary art. The residence of 1894 is in the Rococo style; the front presents an entablature decorated with a floral motifs and human faces.