Page 369 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

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Palazzolo Acreide

Set on a hill some 40km west of Siracusa, PALAZZOLO ACREIDE is a mainly
Baroque town with the remains of the ancient city of Akrei, one of the province’s
classical sites, lying just outside the modern settlement. Palazzolo makes a good
excursion from Siracusa, or a rather quiet overnight stop if you have your own
transport (the nicest places to stay are in the surrounding countryside).

Palazzolo’s main square, Piazza del Popolo, is the heart of the Baroque town, with
two sides dominated by the handsome church of San Sebastiano and the gleaming town
hall. From here lanes radiate down past opulent facades, hidden courtyards and
gargoyled balconies, eventually leading to a trio of fine Baroque churches, the Chiesa
Madre, San Paolo and the Annunziata. Everything you will want to see is within
walking distance of the centre, though it is quite a slog up the hill to Akrei, especially

in the height of summer.

Casa-Museo di Antonino Uccello

Via Machiavelli 19 • Mon–Sat 9am–6.30pm, Sun 9am–12.30pm • €2 • 0931 881 499, casamuseo.it

Palazzolo’s main focus of interest – at least for anyone curious about the roots of
Sicilian culture – is the Casa-Museo di Antonino Uccello, tucked away in a house in
the old centre. The fruit of one man’s thirty-year obsession to preserve the traditions
of rural Sicily, it constitutes an important documentation of folk art, showing

trousseaux, ceramics, olive presses, puppets, reconstructions of houses and stables,
and anything else judged by Uccello to be in danger of extinction.

Akrai

Daily 9am–5pm • €4 • A 20min walk up from Palazzolo Acreide town centre, or you can park close to the entrance