Noble Ortigia

Walking through the streets of Siracusa it is possible to meet the imposing traces of a noble and elegant city, which shows off its palaces in the heart of its natural living room: the island of Ortigia.

Starting from the stupendous Piazza Duomo, we immediately find Palazzo Vermexio, the highest expression of the Baroque style typical of the architect Vermexio’s buildings and today the seat of the Mayor’s offices.

To the east of the cathedral, in front of the town hall, we find the Beneventano del Bosco Palace, which was the seat of the Queen’s Chamber, the Senate of the city and hosted the Hospitaller Commenda of the Borgia family. In 1778 the building was bought by Baron Guglielmo Beneventano. Its flooring is a delight for the unique look of its kind.

Continuing along the nearby Via Cavour you will easily find yourself in Piazza Archimede where the Palazzo Pupillo dominates, an eighteenth-century building developed on three levels that is characterized by its splendid balconies with unique decorations.

Right next to the Palazzo Pupillo, there is the small Via Montalto, just at the end of the street you are in the Piazzetta dei Mergulensi and just turn right to admire the Palazzo Mergulense Montalto. Built by the will of the noble Macciotta Mergulense in 1397, the palace was later donated by Queen Constance of Aragon to the Montalto family in the fifteenth century, one of the most successful examples of gothic style.

Stretching along Via Montalto and crossing the square, you are in Via dei Santi Corati, if you turn right after a few meters you find Via della Maestranza. Covering it for about 150 meters, on the left you arrive at the beautiful Palazzo Impellizzeri. Built in 1894, it is a typical example of the Sicilian Rococo style, its lace in the balconies and its wide and rich rooms will amaze you.