The sweltering heat and blazing sun have led us to exotic destinations, where colors and scents remind us of distant lands. Artsupp lands in a place that is difficult to reach but captivates the spirit and makes you feel at home right away.
Ready to visit Sicily and the 6 must-see museums on the island!
1. Regional Gallery of Sicily – Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo
We are in the capital of Sicily, Palermo. The city boasts a very broad artistic offering thanks to the presence of historic buildings and prestigious museums. One of the most important collections is displayed at the Regional Gallery of Sicily, located in the noble Palazzo Abatellis. The Palazzo was built at the end of the 15th century and later arranged by architect Carlo Scarpa.
In 2009, the 18th-century wing of the old monastery was opened, where today the 17th-century Sicilian paintings are displayed. One of the most famous works in the permanent collection is the Annunciata by Antonello da Messina, created around 1475. If you want to learn more about the revolutionary work of the Messina artist, also read «THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HAND I KNOW IN ART».
The Triumph of Death is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating masterpieces that we have the honor of hosting on Artsupp. Its expressive power has transcended centuries, perhaps even inspiring Pablo Picasso in Guernica, who recalled the head of the skeletal horse in his famous work. The piece comes from the courtyard of Palazzo Sclafani in Palermo and due to its high artistic level, it was torn into four parts to be preserved at the Regional Gallery of Sicily Palazzo Abatellis.
The fresco is composed like a gigantic illuminated page, where in a lush enchanted garden, Death bursts in on a spectral horse. Launching lethal arrows, it strikes characters from all social classes, killing them! We highly recommend visiting the collection of Palazzo Abatellis on Artsupp to enjoy all the details of this masterpiece in high definition.
2. Sant’Elia Foundation, Palermo
The Sant’Elia Foundation is located on the seafront of Palermo and manages two important venues and exhibition spaces: the Loggiato San Bartolomeo and Palazzo Sant’Elia.
Palazzo Sant’Elia is one of the largest historic residences in Palermo, right in the historic center. Thanks to recent restorations, it has been possible to return a baroque masterpiece to the city. Together with the Loggiato San Bartolomeo, which hosts important temporary exhibitions, Palazzo Sant’Elia serves as a reference point for lovers of modern and contemporary art. You can discover their programming and all the exhibitions on Artsupp.
3. Palazzo Butera, Palermo
In the historic district of Kalsa in Palermo, overlooking the sea, stands Palazzo Butera. The palace was purchased in 2016 and partially reopened in 2018. Currently, Palazzo Butera is under restoration and is visitable as an “open construction site”.
The goal is to make the palace a landmark for important international events and activities. During your visit, you can admire the permanent exhibition from the Valsecchi Collection. Not only modern and contemporary art, but also works of design.
4. Cretto di Burri, Gibellina
The majestic work of Land Art was created by Burri between 1984 and 1989 at the site where the old town of Gibellina once stood, completely destroyed in 1968 by the Belice earthquake, which was then rebuilt from scratch 20 km away.
“When I went to visit the place, in Sicily, the new town was almost finished and was full of works. Here I can do nothing for sure, I said immediately, let’s go see where the old town stood. It was almost twenty kilometers away. I was truly struck. I almost felt like crying and immediately the idea came to me: here, I feel that I could do something. I would do this: let’s compact the rubble which is a problem for everyone, let’s arm it well, and with cement, let’s make an immense white cretto, so that it remains a perpetual memory of this event” (Alberto Burri, 1995)
Thus the artist designed a gigantic monument that retraces the streets and alleys of the ancient city. From above, the work appears as a series of concrete fractures in the ground.
Until that moment, the artist’s experimentation with materials had produced works of “modest” dimensions. The square or rectangular surfaces, thick, in white or black on which cracks and fissures are made, evoke clayey soils after long periods of drought. In Gibellina, the artist returns to the earth, working on 80,000 square meters.
5. Museum of Mediterranean Textures, Gibellina
We remain in Gibellina, but in the so-called “New” city. Here you can visit the Museum of Mediterranean Textures managed by the Orestiadi Foundation. Sicily is called the “Gateway to the Mediterranean“, which is why the exhibition at the Museum retraces the connections between the cultures of the Mediterranean peoples, through jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and costumes.
The Museum hosts one of the most important collections of contemporary art following donations from international artists who paid tribute to the city destroyed by the earthquake. Carla Accardi, Emilio Isgrò, and Mimmo Paladino, with his mountain in the outdoor spaces of the museum, are some of the artists exhibited.
Visiting the Museum of Mediterranean Textures is a great opportunity to discover the works of artists from the Mediterranean area and their cultural ties.
6. Mandralisca Museum, Cefalù
In the city center of Cefalù stands the Mandralisca noble palace, once home to the namesake family and today the site of the Mandralisca Museum. Palazzo Mandralisca is an example of a typical Sicilian noble residence: rich in charm and atmosphere.
Inside the Palazzo are the Library, with over 3700 historical volumes, and the Pinacoteca set up in the main hall, where the Baron used to receive his distinguished guests. The collection is rich in paintings from the 15th to the 17th century, including the famous “Portrait of a Man” by Antonello da Messina, the second most famous smile in the world, after that of the Mona Lisa. It depicts an unknown man wearing a sailor’s uniform and a black cap. The painting was purchased by Baron Mandralisca in Lipari, where it is said to have been mounted as a door on a pharmacy cabinet.
An important number of archaeological finds, discovered by the Baron during numerous excavations in the surrounding cities, are also preserved.
Let Artsupp help you plan your trip to discover the wonders of Sicily. You can find museums, their opening hours, exhibitions, and high-definition artworks.
