Nicolaci di Villadorata Palace

Style and General Description

Nicolaci di Villadorata Palace, an eighteenth-century private residence, representative of the Baroque style. Characterized by Baroque balconies, it stands next to the Church of Montevergine. The wrought-iron railings decorating the balconies are called, for their shape, “goose breast.” These were specially made to accommodate the wide dresses of aristocratic ladies leaning out onto the street.

Features and Curiosities

Built between 1720 and 1765, the palace was designed by Giacomo Nicolaci, known as “Giacomo il Gobbo,” in 1737. Today it is visitable thanks to the restoration efforts of the municipality of Noto, also hosting the Municipal Library and a portrait gallery. The interior, on four floors, boasts over 90 rooms, including the Ballroom, frescoed in the nineteenth century, and the exteriors with seven Baroque balconies, each decorated with a different figure. This palace is a testament to Baroque architecture and the culture of Noto.

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