The holiday season is back and we couldn’t help but start from our beautiful “Capital” (Sicilians enjoy calling it that…), Palermo. We will take you on an artistic tour of Palermo!

Contemporary art in Palermo

Welcome to a city rich in history, art, culture, and natural beauty: Palermo!

Today we will take you to discover what to do and what to visit in a splendid Sicilian city. Palermo is eclectic, twisted, and rich with many contrasted aspects that won’t stop surprising us. With its arabesque and slow rhythms, vibrant culture, unique delicacies, and rich and diverse history, the sacred is mixed continually with the profane that enriches the people’s daily life there.

Contemporary art in Palermo: where do we start?

Let’s start with a walk to the heart of Palermo, its historical center; the tips is to il consiglio è sicuramente quello di perdervi tra le stradine del quartiere di Ballarò o Vucciria, dove potrete respirare l’atmosfera vivace dei mercati locali, assaggiare prelibatezze gastronomiche e fare acquisti di prodotti tipici siciliani. Fate su e giù per il Cassaro (Via Vittorio Emanuele) e per via Maqueda.

A must-see place is the Cathedral of Palermo, the exterior is magnificent (less so the interior if you don’t go down into the Crypt) …an architectural masterpiece that reflects the influences of all the different peoples who have dominated the island over the centuries. A true open-air book to discover the architectural history of the city in all the rehashes and expansions of its Cathedral. If you feel like it and it is possible, climb to the rooftop to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

Visit the Royal Palace and admire the magnificence of the Palatine Chapel, decorated with Byzantine mosaics. Its Christ Pantocrator will leave you speechless!

Contemporary art in Palermo and beyond: food, sea, and the breath-taking views

For art lovers, the Regional Gallery of Sicily, inside the Palazzo Abatellis, is a real gem. There you will find the “Trionfo della Morte” an evocative and intense fresco from an unknown author and then you can admire many other valuable works of art, including the famous painting “Annunciazione” by Antonello da Messina.

Feel like enjoying some Sicilian sunshine? Take a nice walk around the “Parco a mare” and don’t forget to treat yourself to a visit to the magnificent Villa Giulia gardens and the botanical garden; you can relax in the shade of centuries-old trees and admire beautiful flowers, sculptures, and fountains.

Are you already tired? But no, we’re just getting started; a must-see is the Teatro Massimo, Europe’s third-largest opera house. Ask for a guided tour to discover the secrets behind the scenes of the theater and admire the beauty of the interior and its royal box.

Do you want to see the sea from another perspective? Call a cab or take a bus to the direction of the coast and enjoy a walk along the seaside of Mondello: the beach of Palermitans! Located only around ten kilometers, there you can find the crystal-clear waters, white sand, and surrounding mountains that create an idyllic landscape overlooked by a rather flashy structure right in the middle of the Gulf, the Charleston Terraces!

Let’s return to the city, and now it’s the time for aperitivo… Here people really enjoy the date until late and it’s a must to try the delicacies of local cuisine. Take yourself to a local trattoria and taste the delicious arancini (only in Palermo they call it a masculine object, grammatically), the pasta al forno, the sarde a beccafico, the panelle, the crocchè, the pasta con with sarde, Sicilian cannoli, and cassata to make sure you don’t miss anything!

Let’s certainly not forget to take a look at the contemporary art in Palermo. In addition to historical beauty, the city offers a rich, dynamic, and vibrant contemporary art scene. Let’s start with the ZAC (Zisa Zona Arti Contemporanee), a place that (all too occasionally, unfortunately) hosts exhibitions and cultural events; local and international artists take turns and it is often a source of inspiration and research.

Near the Zisa Castle (worth visiting to discover its engineering secrets of the time) you will find the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, a former industrial area transformed into a multipurpose cultural center.

Fondazione Sicilia – Spazio Cultura – is a cultural center that hosts temporary art exhibitions, cultural events, and conferences related to Sicilian art and culture.

Located in the city’s historic center, Palazzo Ziino hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists, providing an exhibition space to explore different art forms and stimulate artistic dialogue. It is a significant venue for art enthusiasts who wish to discover contemporary works and participate in Palermo’s vibrant art scene.

If you are interested in urban art in Palermo, there is no shortage of it, we recommend a walk through the city’s neighborhoods to discover Palermo’s murals. The city is famous for its colorful murals, which tell stories of social and political commitment and of Palermo’s heroes par excellence, Judges Falcone and Borsellino. Among the richest neighborhoods for street art are Ballarò, Kalsa, and La Cala.

Palazzo Riso is a landmark for contemporary art in Palermo. Located in the heart of the city, Palazzo Riso hosts temporary exhibitions featuring works by contemporary Italian and international artists. This museum is a must-see place to immerse yourself in contemporary art and discover new perspectives.

Gallery of Modern Art (GAM), is located at 21 Via Sant’Anna in Palermo and houses a permanent collection of modern and contemporary artworks, with a focus on 20th-century Sicilian art.

Contemporary art in Palermo: art galleries not to be missed

Be sure to explore the art galleries and independent exhibition spaces scattered throughout the city. Palermo is home to numerous ateliers and galleries that promote emerging and experimental artists. Take a walk through the historic center and the Kalsa district to discover some of these unique venues.

• Francesco Pantaleone Arte Contemporanea is an art gallery in Palermo, active for twenty years and promoting many local artists but not only; in fact, you can also find exhibitions by international artists;
• Raffaello Centro d’Arte is an art center founded in 1986 with as many as two Palermo locations;
• 091 Art Project – Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery, specializing in contemporary art, offers works by Italian and international artists.

• Villa Zito is not really a gallery, but it is an old aristocratic palace that is worth a visit; it was the home of the Ignazio Mormino Art Museum and now houses the Fondazione Sicilia picture gallery. It hosts exhibitions of various kinds, and the striking location makes a wonderful backdrop.
• Galleria La Rocca was founded in 1986 and became a reference point for the art of engraving.

Finally, we recommend attending art and cultural events in Palermo that enliven the city. Throughout the year, Palermo hosts festivals, performances, and temporary exhibitions that pay tribute to contemporary art. Find out about local programs so you don’t miss out on opportunities to immerse yourself in Palermo’s contemporary art!!!