Description of the attraction
Palazzo Biscari is a private property in Catania, built for the Dukes of Biscari from the Paterno Castello family. The construction of the palace began at the end of the 17th century after the devastating earthquake of 1693 and continued for almost a century. The palazzo was erected directly in front of the city walls (the so-called Walls of Charles V), partially survived during the earthquake.
The oldest part of the palace, on which the architect Alonso Di Benedetto worked, was built on the orders of Ignazio, the third Duke of Biscari. Ignazio's son, Vincenzo, commissioned the decoration of seven huge windows overlooking the sea to the Messina-based sculptor Antonio Amato. The Palazzo was later rebuilt by order of the fourth Duke of Biscari, Ignazio Paterno Castello, who expanded it eastward. Architects Giuseppe Palazzotto and Francesco Battaglia worked on the reconstruction project. The final completion of the construction of the palace and its grand opening took place in 1763.
You can get inside by going through a large portal overlooking Via Museo Biscari. A portal leads to a courtyard with an imposing double staircase. The main hall - the Hall of Festivities - is made in the Rococo style and is decorated with mirrors, stucco and frescoes by Matteo Desiderato and Sebastiano Lo Monaco. The small dome is decorated with frescoes praising the greatness of the Paterno Castello di Biscari family. The main hall is accessed by a staircase decorated with stucco and located in a portico overlooking the sea.
From the other rooms of the Palazzo, it is worth highlighting the so-called Feudal Room, the attraction of which is the canvases depicting Biscari's subjects, and the Princess Apartments, built by order of Ignazio V for his wife. The floor of this room is paved with marble from antique Roman villas. Also noteworthy are the Bird Gallery and Don Quixote's Room.
The palace houses a museum that once housed the art collection collected by Ignazio V and is now in the museum of the Castello Ursino castle.
