Sicilian Architecture: Buildings in Sicily

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Architecture in Sicily : Buildings

Key Contemporary Architectural Designs in southern Italy – new built environment upddates

post updated 16 February 2024

Sicilian Architecture Designs – chronological list

We’ve selected what we feel are the key examples of Sicilian Buildings, southern Italy. We aim to include Sicilian projects that are either of top quality or interesting, or ideally both. Sortino:

Sortino Sicily buildings in landscape - Sicilian architecture design

There is not much contemporary architecture on the island but buildings of note are an intervention in Palermo by Carlo Scarpa, Palermo’s department store and a massive modern church building in Siracusa. We cover completed Sicilian buildings, new building designs, architectural exhibitions and architecture competitions across Sicily.

Buildings in Sicily

28 Oct 2022
Colle degli Agrumi – Citrus Hill, hills of Piedimonte Etneo, province of Catania
Design: Matteo Cainer Architecture
Colle degli Agrumi – Citrus Hill Sicily
renders : MCA / Liraat
Colle degli Agrumi – Citrus Hill
Located in the beautiful province of Catania in the hills of Piedimonte Etneo lies ‘Colle degli Agrumi’ – Citrus Hill’ a magical destination, a special kind of retreat, one that feels more homemade and personal, capable of offering a meaningful and immersive Sicilian experience with framed views of Mount Etna and the Mediterranean Sea.

12 October 2021
RG Naxos Hotel, Viale Jannuzzo, Giardini Naxos ME, Italy
Architecture: Architecna Engineering Messina ; Interior Design: THDP, London + Italy
RG Naxos Hotel, Sicily beachfront accommodation - Sicilian architecture design
photo : Giorgio Baroni
RG Naxos Hotel, Sicily beachfront accommodation
The four-star beachfront hotel is beachfront and from all the common areas windows the view is always toward the sea. The building presents most of the room facing the sea allowing the Mediterranean light to enter from the big windows and the guest can enjoy the salty air from the guestroom balcony.

8 Jan 2020
Palermo Seaview Apartments
Design: Pucciocollodoro Architetti
Seaview Apartments Palermo - Sicilian architecture design
picture : Puccio Collodoro Architetti
Seaview Apartments in Palermo
This accommodation facility is set within an imposing and modern building called ‘Ponte sul Mare’, which houses residences, accommodation and business activities. The building is situated in the Politeama district, the heart of the city of Palermo.

1 Apr 2017
The lost column, Penisola della Maddalena, Syracuse
Design: Atelier qbe3
The lost column, Penisola della Maddalena - Sicilian architecture design
image courtesy of architects studio
The lost column, Penisola della Maddalena, Siracusa

Lighthouse Sea Hotel in Syracuse – added 9th July 2016

The focus is on contemporary buildings in Sicily but information on traditional buildings is also welcome. e-architect directors Adrian Welch and Isabelle Lomholt visited Sicily in 2013. We have 3 pages of Sicilian Architecture selections with links to many individual project pages.

Palermo Architecture : key buildings
Cattedrale Palermo - Sicilian architecture design
photograph © Adrian Welch

Palermo Photos : general photos around the city
Market in Palermo - Sicilian architecture design
photograph © Adrian Welch

Sicilian Buildings

Sicliy Architecture – latest additions to this page, arranged alphabetically: Photos are copyright Adrian Welch / Isabelle Lomholt, taken in July 2013: The Necropolis of Pantalica is a large necropolis in Sicily with over 5,000 tombs dating from the 13th to the 7th centuries BC. Pantalica is located in between the towns of Ferla and Sortino in south east Sicily. Together with the city of Syracuse, Pantalica is listed as “Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica” on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Necropolis of Pantalica Necropolis of Pantalica Sicily Pantalica Sicily Necropolis of Pantalica Necropolis of Pantalica Sicily Pantalica Sicily - Sicilian architectural design

Gibellina Buildings – our suggestion if you have time is to visit both new and old Gibellina, separated by 18km. The new city is quite dull in many parts and located staright off the autostrada. The old city is smaller and further inland on twisty roads, but probably more captivating for most visitors. Gibellina is a small city and comune in the mountains of central Sicily, Italy in the Province of Trapani. It was destroyed by the 1968 Belice earthquake. Gibellina Nuova – city plan, the board has seen better days:

Gibellina Nuova Plan

The principal central space in the city:
Gibellina Nuova Architecture Gibellina Nuova Buildings Sicily Gibellina Nuova Buildings

The new city, Gibellina Nuova, was rebuilt some 20 km distant from the old one. The new city was designed by many of the most prominent artists and architects in Italy, but done in a piecemeal fashion so that the parts of the new city bear little relation to one another or to the indigenous architecture of Sicily.

Gibellina Nuova Buildings:
Gibellina Nuova Buildings Gibellina Nuova Building

Gibellina Nuova Buildings Gibellina Nuova Buildings

Ruderi di Gibellina (as the ruins of the city are now referred to) remained just as it was after the earthquake, practically a ghost-town. Artist Alberto Burri covered the entirety of the ruins in concrete, while preserving the shape of the buildings and the streetscape.

Ruderi di Gibellina Ruderi di Gibellina Ruderi di Gibellina Ruderi di Gibellina - Sicilian architecture

Ruderi di Gibellina Ruderi di Gibellina Ruderi di Gibellina

Ruderi di Gibellina Sicily

Additionally, Italian sculptor Pietro Consagra and Senator Ludovico Corrao formed an open air museum with a Consagra sculpture “Porta del Belice” or “Door to Belice” at the entrance. Consagra expressed a wish to be buried at Gibellina on his deathbed in July 2005.

Il Cretto at Ruderi di Gibellina – Memorial To A Town Destroyed by Earthquake – if you have a few days in Sicily then this is definitely a key architectural visit that could be made:

Il Cretto at Ruderi di Gibellina Il Cretto at Ruderi di Gibellina Cretto at Ruderi di Gibellina Il Cretto Sicily Il Cretto Sicily Il Cretto Sicily

Il Cretto Sicily Il Cretto Sicily - Sicilian architecture Il Cretto Sicily - Sicilian architecture design

Promenade Building at Mondello Beach – waterfront building off the Lungomare at Palermo’s popular beach located a few kilometres north of the city:
Building at Mondello Beach Building at Mondello Beach

Sicilian Cemetery – near Il Cretto at Ruderi di Gibellina:
Sicilian Cemetery

Temple of Apollo, Piazza Pantalica, Syracuse:
Siracusa Building

Siracusa Architecture – located in south eastern Sicily, an important historical city with a strong ancient Greek influence:
Siracusa Architecture Siracusa Building

Siracusa Cathedral Building – The Cathedral of Syracuse located on Piazza Duomo in Ortigia, the historic centre of Siracusa:
Siracusa Building - Sicilian architecture design Siracusa Architecture Siracusa Building Sicily

Church of Santa Lucìa alla Badìa, a Baroque building built after the 1693 earthquake. It contains the Burial of St. Lucy a Caravaggio painting, closed when we visited:
Siracusa Building

Our Lady of Tears Shrine – 20th Century Siracusa church building located north west of ths historic centre of Siracusa:
Siracusa Church Building Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa - Sicilian architecture Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa Church Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa Building - Sicilian architecture Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa Church Building

Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa Church Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa Building Our Lady of Tears Shrine Siracusa Church Building

Sortino – typical Sicilian town, located high up, inland from Siracusa:
Sortino Sicily - Sicilian architecture design

Sicilian landscape – between Corleone and Ruderi di Gibellina:
Sicilian landscape

Riserva naturale dello Zingaro – the first nature reserve set up in Sicily (in 1981), located north of Castellamare del Golfo in the Trapani region of north west Sicily:
Riserva naturale dello Zingaro Sicily Riserva naturale dello Zingaro Sicily Riserva naturale dello Zingaro Sicily Riserva naturale dello Zingaro Sicily - Sicilian architecture

More Sicily Buildings online soon

Sicily Architecture Walking Tours by e-architect for groups of visitors.

Location: Sicilia, Italia, southern Europe

Architecture in Sicily

Contemporary Sicilian Architectural Projects

Sicilian Architecture Designs – chronological list

Ri.MED Biomedical Center, near Palermo
Ri.MED Biomedical Center Sicily

The new Colombarium of Campofranco, Province of Caltanissetta, central Sicily
Colombarium of Campofranco

Stage set by OMA for ancient Greek theatre in Syracuse, Sicily
Syracuse Theatre Building
photo : Alberto Moncada

Sicily Architecture Workshop

Italian Architecture

Italian Architecture

Naples Buildings

Italian Houses

Italian Architecture Studios

Comments / photos for the Sicily Buildings – Sicilian Architecture page welcome

Website: Visit Sicily