Palazzo Chiaramonte has a long and bloody history. When it was built, the sea came to within a hundred meters (and as Edward Longshanks learned in Wales, it's a good idea to build your castles by the sea). The head of the Chiaramonte family, Andrew, rebelled in the 14th century, and duly lost his own head to the Kings' axe... More

The palazzo is a remarkable physical reminder of the great fortified houses that characterised nobles' ongoing confrontations with church and state for centuries in Sicilian history. You can't go in unless there's a function on, but just the exterior is magnificent. The streetscape was modified just so that this palazzo could be built - and the last scion of the... More

Interesting Steri Castle, but make sure that the dungeons are open the day you go. You can see where prisoners of the Inquisition were held and view many of their paintings on the walls (mostly of a religious suffering nature). It's worth a hour of your time.

The Palace is very well kept and it is also used for conferences. The visit is well worth especially if have a fascination for the history of the Inquisition in Europe.