The Gothic-Norman Palazzo pulsing with Sicilian history

Built in the 14th century, the enigmatic Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano in Taormina, Italy, is an architectural marvel amidst the upbeat historical neighborhood. The Spanish De Spuches family called it their home originally. Now, it stands as the seat of the Giuseppe Mazzullo Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Sicilian art and culture. Let's explore.

Wander through the palace's quadrangular structure recreating Sicilian Gothic-style and Norman influences. Marvel at the resplendent lavic stone frieze embellishing the exterior and Gothic-style bifolds on the doors. As you move to the well-tended garden, observe the distinctive pattern of lavic stone and Taormina granite on the ground floor's arched gate. A column of pink granite from the Greco Theatre takes center stage in the courtyard.

Safely ascend the staircase constructed in 1700 to explore the first floor, once accessible through intricate systems of drawbridges and movable stairs. Today, visitors can take the contemporary staircase reproduced during the restoration to venture into the second floor untouched by time.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons