Built at the end of the eighteenth century by order of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon to hold the royal shipyards, a seven-hectare complex by the Cala in Palermo, restored and now given over to cultural institutions.
At a glance
- Type
- Former naval arsenal, now cultural venue
- Where
- La Cala quarter, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Coordinates
- 38.1366536° N, 13.3672231° E
- Built
- End of the eighteenth century, for Ferdinand IV of Bourbon
- Area
- About 7 hectares
Overview
The Arsenale della Marina Regia stands in the La Cala quarter of Palermo, in Sicily, near the harbour. The building was put up at the end of the eighteenth century by order of King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon to house the shipyards of the royal navy.
It is a monumental complex of some seven hectares, taking in the shipyards, the stables and the remaining structures for the maintenance of ships. The main building is a long two-storey block with a neoclassical front of columns and arches.
History
In the Bourbon period the arsenal was an important centre of naval production, where the warships of the Bourbon fleet were built and repaired.
After the unification of Italy the building continued in use by the Italian navy, holding the workshops for ship maintenance and the store of naval material.
What you see
The complex has been restored and now houses several cultural and museum institutions; it is open to the public and periodically holds events, exhibitions and performances.
The main building houses the Museo dell’Innovazione, on the history of science and technology in Sicily, and the Palermo regional branch of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli.
Practical information
- Address: Via dell’Arsenale, 90142 Palermo, Sicily.
- Opening follows the programme of the institutions housed in the complex.
Sources
- Cultural Heritage Online historical archive — original Italian entry (beniculturalionline.it), transposed and corrected 2026.
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