Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco

Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco is a Baroque residence on Ortigia with an ornate facade featuring twin columns, sculptural figures, and decorative details aligned toward the Cathedral of Syracuse. It sits on Piazza Duomo and anchors the square with its richly embellished architectural presence.

After the 1693 Sicily earthquake, Baron Guglielmo Beneventano hired architect Luciano Alì to rebuild a medieval structure as a Baroque residence, completed by 1788. This transformation reflected the broader reconstruction efforts that reshaped the island following the disaster.

The interior holds works by Lombard sculptor Gregorio and painter Ermenegido Martorana from the late 1700s, showing how skilled artisans worked in Sicily at that time. The rooms preserve details about how wealthy families lived and decorated their homes during this period.

The building sits on Piazza Duomo in the historic old town and its exterior is visible year-round. The interior requires advance permission from the owners for viewing, so check ahead if you want to see the rooms inside.

The interior is lit by large crystal chandeliers imported from Murano in Venice. These fixtures blend Venetian glass artistry with the Baroque interior design and reveal trade connections between wealthy Sicilian families and other Italian centers.