Former Convent Palace From The Late 1600s

We offer for sale an ancient palace from the late 1600s on the island of Ortigia in Sicily. This historic noble residence is located in one of the most characteristic neighborhoods of the historic center, and the palace follows a perspective line that faces east, defining one side of a historic street that ideally connects two important religious buildings: the oldest above-ground church in the city of Syracuse, dating back to 326 AD, and the former Church of the Convent of the Retreat with its splendid 18th-century façade. Built on the foundations of an older medieval building, this palace, which was originally a wing of the former Carmelite monastery and later became a private residence, has undergone modifications over the centuries, both in perspective and in the internal spaces. It features a large 18th-century entrance hall where one can perceive, by observing the stone arches and various architectural details, the construction criteria from different eras, such as the remnants of an ancient loggia with a pointed arch vault and one of the beautiful Renaissance columns still visible. The rest of the loggia was partially enclosed in later periods with significant stone walls around the mid-1800s for residential needs or to create useful and functional spaces for the servants’ activities. The courtyard, originally larger, has almost maintained its original purpose, even though it is now smaller. The ground floor, which has been renovated, consists of two independent units primarily intended for residential use and tourist accommodation. Ascending a central masonry staircase, likely stylistically revisited in various eras, leads to what was once the noble floor, which still retains much of the layout from the late 1800s and partially from the early 1900s. This floor, with a portion of the original flooring from the late 1600s, is also characterized by the presence of several terraces, including one that, following expansions from a distant historical period, has become part of the roof of the Ancient Church from 326 AD: this unique and unrepeatable perspective fusion in the historic center of Syracuse further enhances this ancient building. We are just a few steps away from other important churches, noble palaces, the Temple of Apollo, and the seafront, which is just over a hundred meters away, as well as a museum dedicated to Archimedes and Leonardo da Vinci. For those looking to purchase an exclusive residence in one of the most beautiful historic centers in Italy, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this residence could be the solution you are seeking.