Palazzo Abatellis

A blend of austerity and elegance, Palazzo Abatellis blends into its surroundings, until you look up at its façade or step closer to its finely crafted entrance. Built in the 15th century in a mix of Catalan Gothic and Renaissance styles, the building once belonged to Francesco Abatellis, the prefect of Palermo, who used it as his private residence.

With no direct heirs in the noble family, the property was converted into a Dominican monastery in the 16th century. Badly damaged during World War II, it was restored in the 1950s by architect Carlo Scarpa, who transformed it into a modern museum space.Today, the palace houses the Regional Gallery of Sicily.

Its most famous treasure is the Virgin Annunciate, the celebrated painting by Antonello da Messina. As you approach the entrance, you’ll pass through an open atrium with medieval sculptures, whose forms echo the Byzantine influence that helped shape Sicilian art. And that’s just the beginning.The museum holds masterpieces from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, including refined sculptures by Francesco Laurana and Antonello Gagini, as well as a wealth of religious artworks.

Palazzo Abatellis is not just a palace—it’s one of the finest places to experience the artistic soul of Sicily.