Best museums in Palermo

Located in the south of the country, the capital of Sicily is a real gem that should not be missed on any trip to Italy. It is a land steeped in history, as rich as it is exciting. Among the best things to do in Palermo, without a doubt, is to visit its museums. With something for everyone, such as the Catacombs of the Capuchins, the Asmundo Museum and Palace and many more, you can delight in works of art and artefacts more than 10 centuries old, architectural wonders and much more.

Palermo is famous, among other things, for its intimate relationship with the world of the Mafia. Since films such as The Godfather, the island of Sicily has become a must-see destination for lovers of these stories. Of course, you can take a specialised tour to learn about the city's mafia past, as well as visit the No Mafia Memorial Museum, a unique experience. Join me on this tour of the best museums in Palermo, you won't regret it.

Definitely one of the most fascinating places in the city, the Capuchin Catacombs Museum is an absolutely unique place. It is a real museum of death, so it is not suitable for everyone. Since the 16th century, the Capuchin order of Palermo began preserving the bodies of the deceased and exhibiting them along corridors and in rooms.

Be amazed by the countless bodies and mummies in an amazing state of preservation, belonging to some of the friars of the Capuchin order, women, children and professionals.

If you dare to walk among no less than 8,000 bodies, you will see that this museum has no comparison. Besides getting to know the mythical convent, you will be able to observe in detail an important part of the customs of Palermo in the 16th century.

Useful information:

• Location: Piazza Cappuccini, 1, Palermo.
• Price: from 3 euros per person.
• Opening hours: open daily from 9am to 12.30pm and from 3pm to 5.30pm.

And since Palermo is the capital of Sicily, the trip would not be complete without a visit to the No Mafia Memorial Museum. Intimately linked to the life of its inhabitants and an indisputable part of the region's history, the world of the mafia captivates travellers from all over the world, who come here to learn all about the world of the Sicilian underworld and its codes of honour.

And if you are one of those who have seen The Godfather trilogy countless times, and the visit to the museum has only made you even more interested in the subject, you cannot miss one of the best mafia tours of Palermo. On this sensational tour you will learn all about the town of Corleone and the most famous figures of the Italian mafia. I can assure you that you won't regret it.

Useful info:

• Location: Via Vittorio Emanuele, 353, Palermo.
• Price: free of charge.
• Opening hours: open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. On Tuesdays the museum is closed.

Located in an ancient villa of the Sicilian nobility, the Pinacoteca of the Sicily Foundation brings together in one place the classical and the modern, in the more than 1,000 works of its permanent collection. Here you can enjoy some of the fundamental paintings of Palermo art of the early 20th century, such as those by Ettore de Maria Bergler, Antonino Leto and Francesco Lojacono.

The Villa Zito' s art gallery is well worth a visit, for although it is not a large museum, its collection is of a truly superior quality. Coming face to face with works such as Renato Guttuso's The Eruption of Etna, with its rivers of fiery lava, or Aleardo Terzi's Evening Harmonies, with its cool brushstrokes, will leave you speechless.

Useful info:

• Location: Via della Libertà, 52, Palermo.
• Price: from 5 euros per person.
• Opening hours: open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8.30am to 1.30pm. The gallery is closed on Tuesdays.

Its construction began in 1615 and took more than 150 years to complete. I assure you that you will be fascinated by the marvellous frescoes that decorate its halls, the work of the Palermitan master Gioacchino Martorana, as well as by the different collections that the Palazzo Asmundo houses.

Among its rooms and spaces to visit, the most important are the Concert Hall, the Hall of Allegories, the Cathedral Hall and the Gioacchino Martorana Hall. The museum also conserves a large number of classic carriages and litters, postcards and antique maps, as well as numerous objects and furnishings that belonged to the Palermo nobility of the 18th century. An amazing place not to be missed.

Useful info:

• Location: via Pietro Novelli, 3, Palermo.
• Price: from 6 euros per visitor.
• Opening hours: open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Visiting the Giuseppe Pitrè Ethnographic Sicilian Museum is one of the best ways to get in touch with the past and present of life on the Italian island of Sicily. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, this museum brings together some 1,500 pieces of furniture, handmade objects, tools, clothing and even a puppet theatre, details that will help you fully understand what life was like in Palermo in the past.

Located in the historic city centre of Palermo, in the Palazzina Cinese, the museum is a real time machine, where you can enjoy all the charm of Sicily, while learning about the customs of the region. You can see antique carriages as well as the royal chapel of the Bourbon-Sicilians.

Useful information:

• Location: viale Duca degli Abruzzi, 1, Palermo.
• Price: from 8 euros per visitor.
• Opening hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5.30pm. Mondays the museum is closed.

Located in the architectural complex of Sant'Anna, the Museum and Gallery of Modern Art of Palermo is one of the museums you cannot miss during your visit to the Sicilian island. With works by Italian painters and sculptors from the 19th and 20th centuries, touring its rooms is an adventure and a way to understand Palermo's pivotal place in the Modernist period.

The GAM treasures works by Antonio Leto, Francesco Lojacono, Massimo Campigli, Mario Sironi, Felice Casorati, Renato Guttuso, Ettore De Maria Bergler and his charming art nouveau, as well as the huge paintings of Giuseppe Sciuti. It is divided into 14 sections, each with a different theme. An ideal place to learn all about Palermitan art of the last century, mainly from the Belle Epoque.

Useful information:

• Location: via Sant'Anna 21, Palermo.
• Price: from 8 euros per person.
• Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am-6.30pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Marvel at this incredible Palermitan monument, the Palatine Chapel is one of the must-see sights in the city of Palermo. The monumental complex Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its great beauty. Besides admiring its imposing Byzantine architecture, you can enjoy the beautiful decorations and religious works of art inside.

The Palatine Chapel is located on the ground floor of the Royal Palace, which is why it is considered a monumental complex. This beautiful complex was built in 1135, commissioned by the monarch Roger II of Sicily. You will see the amazing decoration, with lots of Arabic and Byzantine mosaics, as well as the beautiful muqarnas that cover the ceiling of the central nave of the chapel.

Also known as the Palace of the Normans, the Royal Palace is currently the seat of the Sicilian Parliament and one of the monumental jewels of the region.

Useful information:

• Location: piazza del Parlamento, 1, Palermo.
• Price: from 19 Euros per visitor.
• Opening hours: open Mon-Sat 8.30am-4.30pm and Sun 8.30am-12.30pm.

Another must-see in Palermo is Palazzo Abatellis. Built in the 15th century in a charming Catalan Gothic style, this palace is one of Palermo's most important monuments and home to the Regional Gallery of Sicily. Here you can enjoy some of the finest works of medieval art.

The most famous are undoubtedly: the Moses by Novelli, the Anunziatta by Antonello of Messina, the bust of Eleonora of Messina by Francesco Laurana, or the exceptional fresco The Triumph of Death by an unknown artist. A tour of its 16 rooms will leave you in awe. Always included in the best tours of Palermo, both the Palazzo and the Gallery are true jewels of the city.

Useful information:

• Location: Via Alloro, 4, Palermo.
• Price: from 8 euros per person. Minors pay 50% of the entrance fee.
• Hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday 9am-6.30pm and Sunday 9am-1pm. Mondays the museum is closed.

Located in front of the Cathedral Square, to which it is connected by a Gothic-Catalan arch, the Archbishop's Palace is another place worth visiting in Palermo. Inside is the Diocesan Museum, which has about 15 rooms with religious works of art and one especially dedicated to the patron saint of Palermo, Santa Rosalia.

Besides the museum, the palace is a work of art in itself, built in the 15th century by commission of Archbishop Simone Beccadelli di Bologna, the beauty of its Gothic-Catalan style will leave you speechless. Inside, the Borremans chapel, named after the frescoes by the Flemish painter Guglielmo Borremans, is reminiscent of some of the rooms in the French palace of Versailles. It is certainly a place to see how the Palermitan nobility lived in the 16th century.

Useful information:

• Location: via Matteo Bonello, 2, Palermo.
• Price: from 5 euros per visitor.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-1.30pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday and public holidays 9.30am-1.30pm. The palace and museum are closed on Mondays.

Finally, one of the most typically Sicilian museums, where you will find alive one of its most ancient traditions. The Antonio Pasqualino Puppet Museum is one of those fascinating places. You will be able to discover its incredible collection of Pupis, the traditional puppets of articulated type that represented the Palladian knights.

The museum was recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the intangible and oral heritage of humanity. This is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Palermo with children, who will find here a magical place like few others. In addition to being able to see the puppets, there are some truly unmissable performances.

The museum is located in the former Hotel de Francia, an architectural jewel in its own right, so you will find all the beauty of Palermo's history.

Useful information:

• Location: Piazza Antonio Pasqualino, 5, Palermo.
• Price: from 11.50 euros per person.
• Opening hours: open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, Sunday and Monday from 10am to 2pm.

First of all, it is worth saying that you will have a great time in any of the museums of this incredible Sicilian city. Its cultural offer is really very wide and interesting. However, for your experience to be complete, there are a few things to keep in mind, and here I have put them together for you.

Organise your visits by zones

In cities like Palermo, which have so much to see, it is important to plan a coherent itinerary by zones, this way you will be able to optimize your time and get the most out of your visit. To do this you can check Google maps and organise yourself better. There is no point in crossing the whole city in search of a museum if you have to go back to visit another one.

Check the opening and closing times of each museum

It is common for museums to be closed on one or more days of the week, so to avoid disappointment, I advise you to check the opening hours of the museums you intend to visit before going to them. Also bear in mind that if you visit the city on a public holiday, it is very likely that they will be closed.

Buy your tickets online

If you buy your tickets online you will avoid queues and waiting time. This is essential if you are on holiday or don't have many days off in the city, and even more so if you are travelling with children, as queuing in front of the ticket office can be a nightmare with small children.

Check for special events

In the case of museums such as the Antonio Pasqualino Puppet Museum, where in addition to the exhibition there are performances and special events, I recommend that you visit their website, to organise your visit at a time that allows you to enjoy these shows.

Take a tour of Palermo's main landmarks on a tourist bus

Hop on one of the best hop on-hop off buses in Palermo, and discover all the charm of one of the most attractive cities in Italy. With two different routes to choose from, you will be able to enjoy the classical architecture, the monuments and all the beauty of the Sicilian capital in just one day.

Moreover, thanks to the hop on-hop off mode, you will be able to get off the bus wherever you want and get back on at one of the many stops along the route. Of course, these buses have an audio guide in Spanish, so you won't miss anything of this magnificent city. You'll see the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, the historic centre and much more.

Take a gastronomic tour

Join one of the best gastronomic tours in Palermo and live a unique experience. Taste the typical Sicilian flavours and dishes, where olive oil is always present. Delight yourself with a guided tour of the best Palermo restaurants, open-air markets, and discover why this region is considered one of the best in the culinary field.