Palermo Museums

(Palermo, Sicily, Italy)

Palermo is a veritable Mecca for those interested in history and art. Indeed, its many museums are home to some particularly rich archaeological ethnographic and important collections. A number of these museums are housed within particularly fine historic buildings all over Palermo, including former churches and palaces.

Of particular interest are those museums in Palermo which focus specifically on Sicilian traditions and give visitors a real sense of life in Sicily in bygone days. These include the city's Museo Archeologico Regionale, the Museo Etnografico Pitrè and also the Museo Mormino.

Museo Archeologico Regionale

Address: Via Bara all'Olivella, Palermo, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 611 6805
One of the most important museums of its kind in the Mediterranean region, the Palermo Archaeological Museum is housed within a former church, which dates back to the 16th century. The exhibits at the Museo Archeologico Regionale are spread over two floors and include the famous Stone of Palermo, as well as Greek and Roman statues and a significant collection of Tuscan art.
Open hours: Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 13:30, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 09:00 to 13:30 and 15:00 to 18:30
Admission: charge

Museo Etnografico Pitrè

Address: Via Duca degli Abruzzi 1, Palermo, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 740 4890
Palermo's Museum of Ethnography is named after its founder, the ethnologist Joseph Pitrè. Set within the beautiful Chinese Palazzino, this fascinating museum traces Sicilian folklore back to its roots. The collections at the Museo Etnografico Pitrè include everything from saddlebags and shawls, to carpets and costumes. There are also items of pottery, musical instruments and agricultural implements that would have been the tools of everyday rural Sicilian life.
Open hours: Saturday to Thursday - 08:30 to 13:00 and 15:30 to 18:30
Admission: charge

Museo delle Marionette

Address: Via a Butera, Palermo, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 328 060
Founded in the 1970s, the rich collection of objects at the Museo delle Marionette relate to puppet theatre in Sicily and further afield, in Europe and the Far East. On display are marionettes, glove puppets, shadow puppets and scenic backdrops.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00; Saturday - 09:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discount available for children

Museo Mormino

Address: Viale Liberta 52, Palermo, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 608 5972
Named after a Director General of Banking in Sicily from the 1950s, the museum's collection includes many fascinating archaeological exhibits. The Museo Mormino is also home to displays of pottery, postage stamps, prints and engravings.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge