Palazzo Platamone

The Platamone palace at the sea was located between the Saracen port and the Pontone port, which represented the two most important landing places of medieval Catania. It belonged to the illustrious and rich Platamuni family who distinguished themselves in commerce, but who also had important members who excelled in the political and ecclesiastical environments.

Among them were Battista Platamuni Viceroy of Sicily in 1436 and secretary of King Alfonso the Magnanimous from whom he received the investiture of the fund of Aci; Giuseppe, of the Dominican order, who in 1530 gave the official speech in the cathedral of Bologna for the coronation of the Emperor Charles V in the presence of Pope Clement VII; Anthony Bishop of Malta; the venerable sister Agatha to whose prayer King Philip II himself was recommended from Madrid.

This family's wealth came from the trade in agricultural products, livestock and fabrics exported from Catania by sea as well as from the activity carried out by some members of the family who practiced the profession of established bankers. Their palace stood in the area on which the monastery of San Placido was later erected, which often hosted the White Queen, wife of King Martin the Younger. To facilitate the commercial traffic of the Platamunis, the Queen of Navarre herself had granted the opening of a postern in the walls of the bulwark adjacent to the house of Don Antonio Platamuni. This privilege was later enjoyed by the princes of Biscari.

The houses of the Platamones are located in the monastery because the family had already donated them to the religious in the 15th century. According to tradition, the residence had been built on the ruins of the temple dedicated to Bacchus.