Within Lanterne Magiche Ortigia, Sala Vittorini comes to life: an elegant period cinema and theatre dedicated to Elio Vittorini, the Syracuse-born writer, translator and journalist.

Sala Vittorini was officially established in 1995 in Ortigia, within the historic Palazzo Corpaci on Via Alagona, as part of the original exhibition space of the Cinema Museum. In 2025, the room underwent a careful conservation restoration that enhanced its original character, transforming it into a private cinema and theatre designed to preserve and pass on the site’s cinematic heritage. Today, it still houses and displays rare pieces of historic film equipment, authentic witnesses to the history of cinema.

In this intimate, evocative setting, surrounded by vintage furnishings, soft lighting and a timeless atmosphere, guests can enjoy an immersive experience filled with nostalgia and wonder. Throughout the day, rare footage of Sicily from the early twentieth century is shown on a continuous loop, recently restored by the Cineteca dello Stretto. These images of great historical value portray landscapes, traditions and glimpses of everyday life from a world that has disappeared, bringing the appeal of Sicily’s cinematic memory vividly to life.