Palazzo Abatellis
Palazzo Abatellis
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
423 reviews
Excellent
227
Very good
130
Average
43
Poor
19
Terrible
4
Will
Sheffield, UK23 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We spent about an hour in the dozen or so rooms in the palazzo. The cost is 8 Euros per person and they accept credit cards, contrary to one of the reviews. The major work is "The Triumph of Death" wall painting. The theme of the entire gallery is religious art from the 14th century onwards. There are cards written in Italian and in English in almost every room, with details of the artworks.
One of the reviews mentioned the heat. Yes, it gets hot in Sicily in the summer. It's an old palazzo not a modern air conditioned building.
One of the reviews mentioned the heat. Yes, it gets hot in Sicily in the summer. It's an old palazzo not a modern air conditioned building.
Written September 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oliver S
New York City, NY11,509 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
It’s located in the Kalsa part of Palermo. Kalsa is Arabic for “the chosen one”. Well, this palazzo would not be my choice for anything. It features the great name of “National Gallery of Sicilian Art” and it intrigued me, because I did not know much about Sicilian Art. A short ride from the hotel to the Palazzo set us back €20. A very unfriendly ticket office advised us that they don’t take AMEX, then claimed my Visa was declined. I had them try again and, oh, miracle, it worked the second time! No map of the premises, a bunch of idle employees chatting with each other and having no interest whatsoever in the visitors. The museum contains religious art, exclusively. They have one Antonello da Messina which is of interest. Definitely not worth it.
**
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony H
Williamsburg, VA1,102 contributions
Oct 2018 • Family
The building is Catalan and is not impressive, but the contents sure are! The "Triumph of Death" fresco an internationally known work is housed here. Also not to be missed by art lovers is the "Annunciation" work by the great Antonello da Messina in in the 1400's. Other famous works are the "Wooden Crucifix" by Pietro Ruzzolone 15th-16th century and "Portrait of a Youth" by Antonello Gagini son of Domenico Gagini who sculped "Virgin and Child" in the 1400's.
Written November 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Muddy_Norfolk
King's Lynn, UK26 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
The art in this beautiful building is worth trailing through narrow back streets in 30* heat to see. As lots of other reviewers have pointed out...the huge fresco of the Triumph of Death and the Blue virgin of Antonio de Messina are quite quite wonderful..The top floor has some excellent work by artists who copied Caravaggios style with great success...some beautiful portraits and dramatic scenes. A must see if visiting Palermo.
Written July 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dsk188644
Brussels, Belgium116 contributions
Oct 2015
this visit sums up what is most irritating about Sicily. they have the most splendid cultural jewels but there is no plan of the museum and no sense of pride or welcome. the explanations in each room (in English and Italian) are placed not at the convenient entrance to each room, but in a place where you have to fight to find it. and you pay 8 euros to be told that one of the main attractions is not available. I really felt like asking for a discount. but you get worn down but lack of eye contact with the staff and just leave quietly. that said the Annunciation by de Messina is fabulous. so you have to go
Written October 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter L
Melbourne, Australia3 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
The exhibition of paintings of Antonello da Messina finishes in February 2019.
It is superb - he is painter who brings the soul of a portrait to the viewer.
He introduced into Italy the Dutch style of posture (half profile), hues and oil painting techniques.
Fortunately the most impressive of all - a small painting Virgin Annunciate lives in Palazzo permanently. Worth to see on it's own... I am not sure after seeing that small painting, it might just be on the top of the best ever made paintings.
It is superb - he is painter who brings the soul of a portrait to the viewer.
He introduced into Italy the Dutch style of posture (half profile), hues and oil painting techniques.
Fortunately the most impressive of all - a small painting Virgin Annunciate lives in Palazzo permanently. Worth to see on it's own... I am not sure after seeing that small painting, it might just be on the top of the best ever made paintings.
Written January 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil H
Dublin, Ireland7 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
I spent a couple of hours visiting here. It is a beautiful building with some great art and exhibitions. Definitely include this on your list of cultural experiences in Palermo.
Written December 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ginsengNewYork
New York City, NY1,318 contributions
Jul 2017
The collection of museum that used to be the residence of Francesco Abatellis, port master of the Kingdom of Sicily, is rather rich. It contains 12th century wooden works, 14th-17th century works by foreign and italian artists and the remarkable fresco of the Triumph of Death by unknown author that is exhibited in the former chapel. I think this museum is worth visiting at least because of this fresco which leaves a lasting impression.
Written May 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniela V
Cervo, Italia1,654 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Probably the best known piece is Antonello's Virgin Annunciate, the delicate portrait of a very beautiful girl, but also the Triumph of Death, an awesome fresco taking up an entire wall. It is a large collection of mostly religious works. For me the most impressive room was the recently appointed Red Room on top, with late samples of Mannerism.
Written May 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken M
Nambour, Australia281 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
Entry Euro 10 ( also gets entry to Palazzo Mirto ). Photography allowed.
Beautiful Museum featuring late Medieval to early Renaissance artworks. Great curation, lighting etc., friendly staff ( provided you are friendly to them ... ). Very few other people there when I went early in the morning - more staff than visitors - which makes for a very relaxed and easy visit.
Most of the artwork is Christian religion themed - so try to look beyond that and enjoy the exquisite finery of the paintings and sculptures without being over-whelmed by the blunt messaging.
Beautiful Museum featuring late Medieval to early Renaissance artworks. Great curation, lighting etc., friendly staff ( provided you are friendly to them ... ). Very few other people there when I went early in the morning - more staff than visitors - which makes for a very relaxed and easy visit.
Most of the artwork is Christian religion themed - so try to look beyond that and enjoy the exquisite finery of the paintings and sculptures without being over-whelmed by the blunt messaging.
Written July 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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