8. Polara Palace

Polara Palace, located next to the Cathedral of Saint George, was built in the late Baroque style (Fig. a). a). The entrance is accessed from a terrace, served by a flight of steps (Fig. b). b) adjacent to the church of Saint George. The two-storey building is defined at the top by an attic wall bearing sculptures and the family coat of arms (Fig. c). In the central part, the entrance door is characterised by two ashlar pilasters bordered by a cornice, above which are the corbels supporting the curved balcony.
The other two parts bear two windows on the ground floor and two balconies on the upper floor. Laterally, the façade is contained by two large ashlar pilasters.
The building still contains the original furnishings (Figs. d, e) and frescoed ceilings (Fig. f).
Inside, hypogea and grave goods dating from a period between the first and second centuries AD have been discovered and are now kept at the Modica Museum. The palace now belongs to the municipality thanks to the legacy of the last heir.