Palazzo Corvaja
Palazzo Corvaja is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Taormina audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~30 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type palace
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Taormina Taormina guide
About Palazzo Corvaja
Taormina's finest medieval palace, a remarkable fusion of Arab, Norman, and Gothic styles where the Sicilian parliament met in 1411 under Queen Bianca of Navarre, now housing the tourism office and cultural exhibitions.
The Palazzo Corvaja is the finest medieval civil building in Taormina and one of the most historically significant buildings in eastern Sicily. The core of the building is an Arab tower dating from the 10th century, when the Arabs controlled this coast, the characteristic blind interlaced arches of Islamic architecture are still visible on the lower portion of the tower. The Normans who arrived in the 11th century expanded the building significantly, and further Gothic additions were made in the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1411, the Sicilian parliament met here, presided over by Queen Bianca of Navarre, regent of the Kingdom of Sicily during the interregnum that followed the death of the Aragonese-Sicilian kings, a moment of exceptional constitutional significance in Sicilian history. The building now houses the Taormina tourist information office and a museum of Sicilian art and crafts.
Did you know? The first Sicilian parliament met at Palazzo Corvaja in 1411, this institution is a direct ancestor of the modern Sicilian Regional Assembly, making the building a founding monument of Sicilian democracy.
How long should you spend at Palazzo Corvaja?
Plan about ~30 min at Palazzo Corvaja. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Palazzo Corvaja worth visiting?
Palazzo Corvaja is one of the 15 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Taormina, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Taormina
Hear the story of Palazzo Corvaja
Preview the Taormina tour free in the Gingerguide app.