A restored symbol of Catanese Baroque at Palazzo Sangiorgio
Vaccarini Staircase
The last legacy of architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini
decorates the garden of Palazzo Sangiorgio
One of the elements that tells part of the fascinating and noble history of Palazzo Sangiorgio is the double staircase by Vaccarini that, with its monumental elegance, descends into the hotel’s inner courtyard.
The creation of this long-forgotten architectural jewel was part of a larger project that would have involved the entire palace when, in the 1740s, it was commissioned by the Hernandez family, then owners of the property, to Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, a Sicilian architect responsible for the reconstruction of Catania and other cities in eastern Sicily destroyed by the disastrous earthquake of 1693.
Vaccarini Double Staircase
Monumental Elegance
The rampant portico remains the only element of the building that can be attributed with certainty to Vaccarini, who died before he could complete his project, later altered by the various uses the palace was subjected to over time.
Today, the magnificent staircase is restored to its original purpose, connecting the ground floor of the palace to the rooms on the first floor of the hotel.
Vaccarini and Catania
From the staircase, one can descend to access the garden for live music events or to simply enjoy the shade offered by the lush vegetation over an outdoor lunch or dinner, served up by the Ristorante Basalto, in a secluded urban corner full of charm.
Although the staircase is the only trace Vaccarini left at Palazzo Sangiorgio, you can track the steps of his remarkable urban intervention in Catania by visiting the city hall and its square featuring an obelisk topped by a lava stone elephant, as well as the Baroque Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. The concierge team at Palazzo Sangiorgio will be happy to organise your tour of these and other attractions in Catania and its surroundings.
