Many facades 

Sicilian facades are often: grand; faded; decorative; looming; decaying; monumental; sacred; colourful; warm; and at times unassuming. And words like Arab Norman, Romanesque Gothic, Sicilian Baroque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco are used to describe the island's fabulous architecture.

In seaside towns, mountain villages and cities Sicilian facades are wonderful in variety, detail and style.

Seventeen facades snapped last year follow below.

One favourite

There is one façade in Palermo just in from Via Liberta, which is a favourite.

It is the flamboyant classic Art Nouveau Palazzo Dato on the corner of Via XX Settembre and Via XII Gennaio. Designed by the architect Vincenzo Alagna and built in 1906, it is a beauty. It is the first of the seventeen.

To go inside

To be captivated by a façade is often enough to want to enter. I would love to see inside Palazzo Dato but as luck would have it, it seems to be private apartments and getting in, near impossible.

A note: The architectural styles are noted with most photos. Some were found in reading. Others, where not known, I have said 'likely' or 'has to be'. A few have no style notes.

I hope you enjoy them.

Seventeen in snapshot: 

Palermo: Palazzo Dato, via xx Settembre 1906  (Art Nouveau)

Palermo: via Torremuzzo near via Alloro (has to be Sicilian Baroque)

Palermo: 18th century Chiesa Santa Maria della Pieta, corner via Alloro and via Torremuzzo (Sicilian Baroque)

Palermo: just off via Dante, no.4 Piazza Virgilio, opposite Villino Favoloro- di Stefano (likely Art Nouveau/Art Deco)

Polizzi Generosa Madonie Mountains: 12th century built in 1167 Chiesa San Nicolo 

Caltagirone: via Corso Vittorio Emanuele no. 20 (likely Art Nouveau)

Caltagirone: detail no. 20 Vittorio Emanuele

Trapani

Trapani: Piazza Garibaldi via Regina Elena (likely Sicilian Baroque)

Trapani: post office 1927 (likely Art Deco)

Trapani: Palazzo Burgio Baroni di Scirinda, 16th century (likely Romanesque Gothic in style )

Trapani: cathedral San Lorenzo 17th century (Sicilian Baroque)

Trapani: Palazzo del Duca Saura, 18th century (has to be Sicilian Baroque)

Erice: Chiesa Matrice, in the shadow of the bell tower, dates from early 14th century (gothic style)

Cefalu: shop fronts along the sea on Lungomare Giuseppe Giardina

Cefalu: cathedral 12th century (Arab Norman)

Linguaglossa, Mount Etna: Chiesa Madre 17th century (likely Sicilian baroque)

Piedimonte Etneo: a village house in Piedimonte on the slopes of Etna

Salve

Suzanne