Palazzo Chiaramonte Palace

Palazzo Chiaramonte, commonly called the Steri, is a 14th-century palace in Palermo, Sicily, built for the powerful Chiaramonte family. It is notable for its fortified Gothic architecture and its use as an Inquisition tribunal in later centuries.

Visitors encounter a large medieval courtyard, monumental Gothic façades and interior halls showing historical fresco fragments and civic decoration. Parts of the palace interpret its role as an Inquisition seat, including former cells and tribunal rooms that are presented in guided visits.

Erected in the early 14th century by the Chiaramonte dynasty, the building functioned as a noble residence before being requisitioned for official uses, including the Spanish Inquisition in the early modern period. It has since been preserved and incorporated into institutional and cultural uses.

Located in Palermo’s historic centre, the palace sits among medieval streets and civic monuments and is accessible on foot from the main squares of the old city.

• The Steri and the Inquisition: Commonly known as the Steri, the palace later served as the seat of the Spanish Inquisition in Palermo and retains spaces interpreted for that period.

What to See#

• Courtyard and halls: The central courtyard and medieval halls retain original Gothic architectural elements and fresco fragments, which are displayed to visitors in guided tours.
• Former Inquisition rooms: Former prison and tribunal rooms used during the Spanish Inquisition period that are interpreted as part of the palace visit.

Palazzo Chiaramonte (Steri) sits in central Palermo. From Palermo Centrale station it’s an easy walk of about 1-1.5 km (roughly 15-20 minutes) through the historic centre along Corso Tukory/Corso Vittorio Emanuele and nearby Via Maqueda. By car from Falcone-Borsellino (Palermo) Airport the palace is about 35 km into the city (around 35-45 minutes depending on traffic) via the A29 and viale Regione Siciliana.

• Visit in the cooler, quieter early morning - Palermo's historic center livens up by mid-morning, so you'll get clearer sightlines and fewer people outside the palace.
• Check opening hours before you go: access to interiors of historic palaces in Palermo can be limited or tied to guided tours, so book ahead if you want to see inside rather than just the exterior.
• When viewing from the street, look up at the windows and cornices - many visitors focus on the façade at eye level and miss carved stone details and ornamentation on the upper levels.