It is a charming square surrounded by typical sicilian buildings, which show the progress of history, from Middle Age to the Baroque period. In the middle stands the beautiful Arthemis Fountain, realized in 1906 by the sculptor Giulio Moschetti.
It represents Goddess Arthemis, and introduce to tourists the legend of Arethusa: a greek nymph whose escaping from her suitor Alpheus; Arethusa prayed protection to her Goddess Artemis, who transformed her into the fresh water spring not far from Piazza Archimede.
The buildings already mentioned that overlook the square trace ideally the whole history of Ortigia Island up to nowadays.
On west side you can see the Bank of Sicily palace, a fifteenth century building, restored in the 50s: it is characterized by a huge portal framed in columns. Instead on east side there is Palazzo Pupillo (1773 – 1800), with its slightly convex and irregular facade. At the corner between via della Maestranza and Via Roma is found Palazzo Interlandi Pizzuti. Then you can admire Palazzo Gargallo, dated to the seventeenth century, but renovated and decorated at the end of the eighteenth century. In here was born the Count Tommaso Gargallo on 25 September of 1970. Next to Palazzo Gargallo there is Palazzo Lanza – Bucceri (originally Palazzo Platamone), on its columns are still preserved some armorial symbols of the first family owner.
