Palazzo Nicolaci, Noto

The Nicolachi family got rich fishing tuna on the Syracuse coast, then increased their fortune by buying land. Marriages with noble families of Noto helped them to enter the circle of the aristocracy, which allowed the family in 1701 to receive the noble title of Barons Gisira and Bonfal (Baroni di Gisira e Bonfalà). Then the family coat of arms appeared, which depicts a greyhound dog in a jump. In 1720, Corradino Nicolachi commissioned the architect Rosario Gagliardi to build a residence with 48 rooms, which was completed in 1737. Although this figure is stamped above the door, the palace acquired its final appearance only in 1765 under the guidance of Gagliardi's pupil Vincenzo Sinatra. The building had 90 rooms and an elegant Baroque facade, becoming the largest and most luxurious palace in Noto. The center of the facade is a large portal with two large Ionic columns and a crowned balcony. Six other windows on the upper floor have balconies with curved iron railings, each balcony rests on five consoles decorated with grotesque figures of sirens, lions, sphinxes, hippogriffs, winged horses and angels. In 1983, the palace was acquired by the Municipality of Noto and completely renovated under the direction of architect Giovanna Susan. The living rooms of the halls on the upper floor, where the aristocrats lived, are now available for visiting. The palace is located a block west of the Cathedral, on Via Corrado Nicolaci, it is open daily from 10 to 13 o'clock in the morning and from 15 to 19 o'clock in the evening. The ticket price is 4 euros.

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