Palazzo Municipale

Syracuse


The Palazzo Municipale or Palazzo Senatoriale was built in 1629 by the Spanish architect Juan Vermexio, who was nicknamed 'Il Lucertolone' or 'the lizard'. On the left corner of the cornice is the architect's signature: a small lizard carved into a stone. Excavations beneath the building (now serving as city hall) have uncovered the remains of an Ionic temple, better known as the 'couch of Artemis', to whom Ortygia was dedicated.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Syracuse attractions

1. Artemision

0.01 MILES

Loitering beneath Palazzo Municipale are the scant remains of a 6th-century-BC Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, as well as the modest traces…

2. Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco

0.02 MILES

In the northwestern corner of Piazza del Duomo is the Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco. While its origins are medieval, the baroque palace you see today is…

3. Duomo

0.04 MILES

Built on the skeleton of a 5th-century BC Greek temple to Athena (note the Doric columns still visible inside and out), Syracuse's 7th-century cathedral…

4. Piazza del Duomo

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5. Palazzo Arcivescovile

0.05 MILES

The elegant, 17th-century Palazzo Arcivescovile is home to the Biblioteca Alagoniana and some rare 13th-century manuscripts.

6. Palazzo Lanza-Bucceri

0.08 MILES

Syracuse's 'drawing room', Piazza Archimede is flanked by Catalan-Gothic palazzi, including Palazzo Lanza-Bucceri.

8. Chiesa di Santa Lucia alla Badia

0.09 MILES

The Chiesa di Santa Lucia alla Badia is dedicated to the city's patron saint, St Lucy, martyred in Syracuse during the reign of the Roman emperor…

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      "country": "Italy",
      "region": "Sicily",
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