A civic museum of modern art housed in a restored seventeenth-century complex in Palermo’s Kalsa district, featuring major twentieth-century Italian artists.
At a glance
The Empedocle Restivo Modern Art Gallery occupies a monumental complex joining the Baroque former Franciscan convent of Sant’Anna la Misericordia with the adjacent Catalan Gothic Palazzo Bonet. The collection spans works by Giovanni Boldini, Giorgio De Chirico, Renato Guttuso, Mario Sironi, and many other significant twentieth-century masters. A third extension in Palazzo Ziino displays plaster casts and hosts temporary exhibitions.
History
The gallery’s origins trace to 1910, when Empedocle Restivo’s determination established the city’s first civic museum of modern art in the Politeama theater’s Ridotto. That temporary location proved inadequate but remained in use for nearly a century due to financial constraints. In December 2006, after the restoration of the seventeenth-century Sant’Anna complex, the collection relocated to its current purpose-built home. A year later, in December 2007, the museum received a significant gift: two sculptures by De Chirico—Ettore and Andromaca and Oreste and Pilade—from the Bilotti collection.
What you see
The architectural complex merges two distinct periods and styles. The Baroque convent of Sant’Anna la Misericordia anchors the main site, its classical proportions and religious heritage evident in surviving architectural details. The adjacent Palazzo Bonet represents Catalan Gothic taste, characteristic of medieval Sicily’s cross-cultural artistic heritage. Together, the restored buildings provide a spacious, dignified setting for modern artworks.
Cultural significance
The gallery preserves a crucial chapter in Italian modern art. Its collection documents the aesthetic directions pursued by painters and sculptors from the early twentieth century onward—from Boldini’s society portraiture through De Chirico’s metaphysical vision to Guttuso’s socially engaged realism. Housing these works in a restored historical monument reflects Palermo’s commitment to integrating contemporary cultural institutions within its architectural patrimony.
Key facts
- Address: Viale delle Belle Arti, 131, Palermo
- Coordinates: 38.115131858590665, 13.365726470947266
- Phone: 091 843 1605
- Website: gampalermo.it
- Founded: 1910; relocated to current site December 2006
Practical information
The gallery occupies three separate buildings: the main Sant’Anna complex houses the permanent collection, while Palazzo Ziino provides exhibition space on its second floor and displays plaster casts on the first. Opening hours and admission fees are available on the official website.
Getting there
The gallery is located in the Kalsa district of Palermo’s historic center. Contact the museum directly or consult the official website for current hours and any visitor guidelines.
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