The historic building

A journey through history and modernity

Our building is located inside the charming Palazzo Gargallo di San Leonardo in the heart of the historic centre of Siracusa. It is a fascinating example of 15th century Aragonese-Catalan architecture which recounts centuries of history and tradition.

Originally built by a noble family, unknown today, the building was acquired in the 16th century by the prestigious Gargallo family, one of the most influential in Siracusa’s aristocracy.

Over the years, it has undergone various restorations and modifications especially after the 1693 earthquake and during the following centuries. Despite these changes, it still retains splendid, original features such as the porticoed courtyard with octagonal columns and finely decorated bifora windows.

Our wing was added in the 18th century and was intended to house accountants and collaborators of the family while the ground floor was used as storage.

An interesting historical detail: in the 1797 marriage contract between Marquis Tommaso Gargallo di Castel Lentini and Marchioness Lucia Grimaldi di Terresena, the groom’s father, Marquis Filippo Gargallo offered this “tenement” near the Church of San Leonardo as a dowry. The building had been inherited from his mother, Marchioness Anna Bonanno who in turn had inherited it from her aunt Partexano.

At that time, tenements were true, residential complexes made up of several buildings joined together around internal courtyards. In our courtyard, you can admire not only an elegant 15th-century arch but also an ancient Byzantine well similar to those discovered in the archaeological digs opposite Palazzo Montalto.