The building to the immediate right of the facade of the church and overlooking the square was the house of Syracusan painter Mario Minniti, a friend and follower of Caravaggio.

Minniti was a fellow student and housemate of Michelangelo da Caravaggio (until 1600), at a time during which both were young painters seeking their fortunes in Rome.

Penniless, the two posed for each other as models, and it was such that art historian Christoph Frommer recognized the face of Minniti immortalized in the Bacchus by Caravaggio in the Uffizi, in the Lute Player in the Hermitage, and as the boy from The Fortune Teller in the Capitoline Museums.

When Caravaggio arrived in Syracuse in 1608, fleeing from Malta, his former friend recognized him and introduced him to the artistic community of city. Thanks to this help, Michelangelo painted the famous painting The Burial of St. Lucia, which is still preserved in the city.

We know, however, that Caravaggio did not stay in this house, but sought asylum with the Capuchin friars, next to the Quarries of the Capuchins. 

It’s not hard to imagine, though, that Caravaggio most likely frequented the house of his one friend in Syracuse.
In addition, it’s worth adding that we know about the former location of the entrance to the courtyard of the synagogue from a petition by Minniti, who asked and obtained permission to demolish the arch of the main door, which hung over the alley that runs along his home.