Art Museums in Sicily

THE 10 BEST Sicily Art Museums

Art Museums in Sicily

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What travelers are saying

  • helene-boyce
    Seattle24 contributions
    This private collection of floor tiles is mind blowing.. While touring the private apartments of this partially restored palazzo you will be amazed by the handmade floor tiles that cover nearly every inch of the walls. It’s a version of Sicilian history not otherwise noticed and made us appreciate all the tiles seen later in our trip. But the wildest thing about this museum is that you can stay here! The owners offer several apartments to visitors. We stayed 4 nights very comfortably.
    Written April 13, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • SoonerSteve
    Delray Beach, FL1,299 contributions
    My wife and I took a guided tour of this beautiful palazzo. Our guide was very informed and explained the history of the palazzo as well as details of each room and paintings.
    Written May 1, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Kelley B
    5 contributions
    We founds this unusual collection quite by accident- it is just down the block from our apartment. What a find- the palazzo is exquisite and the collection is extensive, wide ranging (with a few concentrations) and curated beautifully. Definitely worth a visit!
    Written May 20, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Malin
    Stockholm, Sweden27 contributions
    On our first day in Palermo, we went straight to this museum in order to gain some historical knowledge and context of this old city. In this beautiful building (with a fountain and garden in its courtyard), we were met with some unique and telling physical findings of Palermo and Sicily’s old past. We really appreciated the statues and the objects, but unfortunately the storytelling was lacking. We were missing timelines, more historical background, maps and and just more information in general. At several times, we found ourselves wondering what we were looking at. Everything was translated into English, but we were truly missing more informative signs about context/location. We read more about excavations than the objects’ (possible) usage. One room was however named after a famous Syrian anthropologist who lost his life in protecting the ancient city of Palmyra which brought a tear to both our eyes. We also loved the room dedicated to the different languages of Sicily but it was much too brief.

    We still appreciated our visit and will definitely go back when we return to Palermo, but the museum left us hungry for more ;-)
    Written July 25, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • phat_dawg_21
    Alpharetta, GA13,101 contributions
    Most of the major churches in Noto are clustered in the same area. It is easy to get church overload, but this is one you would not want to miss because its style is different from all the rest.
    Written August 6, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • niki101
    London, UK767 contributions
    Two paintings brought me to Messina – ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’ and ‘Resurrection of Lazarus’. Two of the last paintings of Caravaggio! It’s believed Caravaggio was on his way to Rome when he stopped in Messina and was engaged to paint these two paintings.

    The time is just stopping while standing in front of the paintings and admiring the dramatically lit, monumental figures. Humility in ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’ is overwhelming. By seating the Virgin on the ground, Caravaggio implies that she is not a heavenly queen, but rather a simple young mother.

    In ‘Resurrection of Lazarus’ the light is more than ever presented as a metaphor for the power of the spirit. With one hand reaching towards the light and the other towards the skull, Lazarus appears to be in between life and death. According to legend, Caravaggio had a freshly buried body exhumed in order to make the painting more realistic. As all of Caravaggio’s paintings, these two paintings also get under your skin. What a painter Caravaggio was!

    At the time of our visit, there was a school lesson at the spot of Caravaggio’s paintings. We had to wait for the class to leave so we could see the paintings in peace. A few girls from the class were noisy; they were taking some photos of the paintings like they were on a model photo session and were grinning so loudly. Not really nice when people want to see and concentrate on the paintings. When the parents are not around, the teacher should tell the students to respect the paintings and other visitors too! The staff also should at least to remark that this is a public place and ask them to keep silence. I did not let myself down because of this experience but it was not necessary to have it.

    There are some notes in English but it would be good to have more explanations about the paintings themselves.
    Written May 11, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ANGELO V
    Milan, Italy2,712 contributions
    This is the only museum in Cefalù, and it was started as a private collection by Baron Enrico Pirajno of Mandralisca, who collected numerous art objects by placing them in his home, where they are still found today.

    The museum is rather eclectic: you can see here paintings, Greek vases and other archaeological findings, furniture, Egyptian ushabtis, coins, a malacological collection, stuffed animals.

    The unmissable works are:
    - "Ritratto d'ignoto marinaio" (portrait of an unknown sailor), by Antonello da Messina. The dating is controversial (1465 or 1470-1472), and the person depicted is unknown, perhaps a noble or wealthy fifteenth-century character
    - San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist), recently found and restored, attributed to Giovanni Antonio Sogliani from the early 1500s.
    - Saints Helena and Constantine, panel by the painter Giovanni Mosco
    Written December 5, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jackief1962
    Sydney, Australia149 contributions
    We enjoyed being here - especially as it was so cool when outside it was so hot! Not a lot of english descriptions throughout but plenty to look at and admire. Well worth a visit.
    Written July 3, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • family_with_kids_001
    Ljubljana, Slovenia2 contributions
    On a rainy day, we visited the museum without any particular expectations, yet we left full of beautiful impressions. The staff was extremely friendly and made their best to explain stories behind each of the exhibits, describing individual parts of buildings and how they were made of certain material to resemble the real materials. We could touch each of the exhibits, which is the point of the exhibition primarily made for blind, yet great for anyone who wants to learn more about the most important Mediterranean buildings and their history. At the end of the tour we had a pleasant conversation with the crew and learnt some more about the Braille alphabet, which was also interesting for the children as well as ourselves.The kids said it was the best museum they have ever visited and it may be close to the truth as there are few where time passes so quickly and where you actually remember what you saw and learnt. Certainly highly recommended.
    Written November 4, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Sally K
    17 contributions
    Quite unexpected. A coffee place cum lunch restaurant in the museum.
    Classic Sicilian dishes, well prepared and presented. Friendly helpful staff.
    Definitely good value.
    And as a bonus, if sitting surrounded by Sicilian history doesn’t appeal, you can sit on a balcony overlooking the facade of Palermo cathedral.
    Written July 2, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ChinaFanNYC
    New York, NY202 contributions
    First off, the Piazza Bologni is a gem. Lots of fascinating buildings which are not too tarted up. (In fact, the facade of this palace could use a bit of love.) It is not open daily, but thanks to Valentina at the adjacent restaurant Carlo V, we returned to visit when it was open, and we are glad we did. You will get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the rich and famous Alliata family, and everything seems to have been preserved as it was before the residence was willed to the Archdiocese of Palermo. The inexpensive guided tour was just enough.
    Written August 26, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • mylesfire
    Austin, TX235 contributions
    It is very interesting that there is such very good modern art in the midst of Catania's historic treasures and buildings going back many centuries. It is a small museum, more like a gallery, and might not change it exhibitions often, buy we enjoyed it very much. Some but not all artists are Italian. Nice environment, small, not crowded. Recommended.
    Written May 22, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Pruguy
    Bensalem, PA744 contributions
    The museum is in the castle on top of the hill. It is small but interesting and the chapel is beautiful and not to be missed. There are also good views for photos.
    Written December 27, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • TravelExpert
    492 contributions
    Nice art and modernist sculpture. The area is a big open space disseminated with strange art pieces. Worth a visit
    Written December 1, 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • bilello
    Frankfurt am Main, Germany21 contributions
    Nice location in the hills above Gibellina Nuova.
    Very good exhibition about the links between the different cultures within the Mediterrean sea (Europe, Maghreb, Near East).
    Included are elements of the theater festivals in the former town of Gibellina (now Crete di Burri) - indoor & outdoor elements.
    The arrangement of the exhibition includes sound elements, so that the whole visit becomes a meditation.
    Definitely worth a visit.
    Written November 29, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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