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..:: HISTORICAL CENTRE ::..

 
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST

Destroyed by the earthquake in 1693, Palazzolo Acreide was rebuilt in the eighteen century and the late original Baroque style. It revived by flourishing with monuments, churches, palaces and other valuable works of art.

SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH
(Chiesa di San Paolo)

The church of Saint Paul rises on the old church of Santa Sophia. It has an imposing baroque façade with three orders and was probably built by Francesco Sinatra.

The most important works of art in the church are the organ, Saint Joseph's paintings and the wooden altar, dates back to 1748. Saint Paul was choosen on 1688 to be the Patron Saint of Palazzolo Acreide.

SAINT SEBASTIAN'S CHURCH
(Chiesa di San Sebastiano)

This church was rebuilt in 1703 and rises up in the "People's square" with its spectacular flight of stairs and a richly decorated three orders façade.

The interior has three naves with valuable stuccos dating back to 1783 and several paintings among which "Saint Margaret of Cortona", a Vito D'Anna's work.

CHURCHES OF THE ANNUNCIATION
(Chiesa dell'Annunziata)

It is the oldest in the city. Destroyed by the 1693 earthquake, it was rebuilt by the architect Matteo Tranisi who planned the extraordinary baroque façade enriched by twisted coupled columns decorated with friezes representing wine shoots and other fruit.

There are two indisputed artistic masterpieces: the famous oil painting of "The Annunciation" by Antonello Da Messina (commissioned to him for this church in 1474), exhibited in the Bellomo Museum in Syracuse and the marble altar with various colours of inlaid marble which represent the allegory of spring.

THE MAIN CHURCH
(Chiesa Madre)

Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, this church was already standing in 1215 but was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake. The inside has three naves Latin cross set with a dome. The church houses a sixteenth century cross painted by an unknown artist and a painting of the Martyrdom of Saint Ippolito by the School of Pietro Novelli.

SAINT MICHAEL'S CHURCH
(Chiesa di San Michele)

This church present corinthian style columns in the inside. The façade presents a portal with corinthian style columns.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION'S CHURCH
(Chiesa dell'Immacolata)

This church presents only a nave but its elegant and peculiar convex façade is the unique architectural example among all the churches of Palazzolo Acreide.

This church houses the excellent and precious statue of Our Lady and Child (Madonna col Bambino) by Francesco Laurana.

SAINT ANTONY'S CHURCH
(Chiesa di Sant'Antonio)

This church was previously planned with three naves latin cross set, but was never ended.

THE TOWN HALL
(Palazzo municipale)

It overlooks the "People's square". The building has a mock-classical architecture design and shows the liberty style engravings.

VITTORIO EMANUELE STREET
(Corso Vittorio Emanuele)

In the main street of Palazzolo Acreide (called "Corso") you can admire the baroque style "Pizzo" and "Iudica" buildings.

GARIBALDI STREET
(Via Garibaldi)

Garibaldi street is characterized by seventeenth century buildings. Iudica palace is famous to have the longest baroque balcony in Europe. The big trusses at n° 27 are grotesque masks (called "cagnoli") different from one another. Another baroque style building is Ferla palace.

UMBERTO I SQUARE
(Piazza Umberto I)

Facing the Saint Paul's church there is Umberto I square, where the eighteenth century Palazzo Zocco stands on the west side of the street with its interesting figures trusses.

PUBLIC GARDEN
(Villa Comunale)

Located in the Marconi square you can find the public garden. It has four large, long paths with great variety of age-old trees, hedges and shrubs. On the central path there is a stone statue, the "Flora", by Giuseppe Giuliano.

MONUMENTAL CEMETERY
(Cimitero Monumentale)

In the Monumental Cemetery you can admire the various architectural styles as the gothic and liberty. Noble and middle-class family chapels, mausoleums, statues and monuments are of great artistic value.

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