Palazzo Nicolaci

The pearl of the Baroque capital

It is one of the jewels of the city of Noto, an indisputable symbol of the artistic wealth and opulence of a past that has characterised the city. Palazzo Nicolaci was the urban noble residence of the family of the same name, and is a wonderful example of Baroque style. The building, designed by Rosario Gagliardi, boasts 90 rooms whose construction began in 1720 and ended in 1765.

With a large portal and a façade dotted with a sequence of balconies with carved stone shelves, the palace extends over four floors: the ground floor, called "dammuso", was intended for stables and warehouses for supplies; the first floor, called "mediastino", housed the residence of Baron Giacomo Nicolaci; the upper floor was the noble residence of family members and the attic was intended for servants.

Its interior will enchant you, with its nineteenth-century neoclassical staircase, the Tea Room with oriental motifs and two Chinese figures and the Salone delle Feste [Celebration Room] with its trompe-l'œil decorations and the ceiling with the allegory of the Chariot of Apollo chasing Aurora.

In one wing of the palace, you will find the Municipal Library, founded in 1817, with thousands of books, Latin and Spanish manuscripts and a gallery of portraits of the illustrious men of Noto.