The Regional Archaeological Museum “Antonino Salinas”

The Regional Archaeological Museum “Antonino Salinas” is located at Piazza Olivella 24, Palermo, and is a true treasure chest of artifacts that bring to life millennia of Sicilian history and civilization. Housed within the majestic Olivella complex, once a monastery of the Oratorian Fathers, the museum combines historical charm with architectural elegance. Its central location makes it easily accessible by public transport — several bus lines (101, 102, 103, and 104) stop nearby on Via Roma, close to the Central Post Office, or on Via Cavour.

A Treasure of History and Culture to Discover

The Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum boasts an archaeological heritage of inestimable value, the result of centuries of excavations, donations, and acquisitions. Its exhibition halls guide visitors through a chronological and thematic journey, allowing them to appreciate the diverse cultures that flourished in Sicily across the ages.

The visit begins with the Prehistoric and Protohistoric Artifacts, displayed in the first rooms. These exhibits illustrate the life and evolution of the earliest human communities on the island through tools, ceramics, and other ancient finds.

Equally significant is the Phoenician-Punic and Egyptian Collection, featuring unique and fascinating discoveries such as the celebrated “Palermo Stone,” a fragment of hieroglyphic inscription essential for understanding Egyptian chronology. Funerary stelae and sculptures highlight the intense cultural and commercial exchanges that ancient Sicily maintained with the eastern Mediterranean world.

However, the museum’s true centerpiece lies in its Greek and Roman Treasures — a collection of extraordinary masterpieces of classical art, particularly from Selinunte, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. The metopes from the temples of Selinunte, remarkable sculptural reliefs depicting mythological scenes, are among the museum’s most iconic and celebrated exhibits. Visitors can also admire friezes, architectural terracottas, and artifacts from other major Greek cities such as Himera, including the famous “Lion-Head Water Spouts from the Temple of Himera.”

A dedicated Epigraphy Hall displays important Greek and Latin inscriptions from various parts of Sicily, offering valuable insights into ancient public life, religion, and civic institutions.

The museum’s collection is further enriched by private donations and noble collections, including that of Giuseppe Emanuele Ventimiglia, Prince of Belmonte, as well as Bourbon-era acquisitions that added materials of non-Sicilian origin, such as Campanian and Pompeian terracottas and bronzes.

In recent years, the Salinas Museum has also gained international prominence through cultural exchange agreements, including one with the prestigious Acropolis Museum in Athens. This collaboration involved the symbolic exchange of important artifacts — notably, the return of the “Fagan Fragment” (a piece of the Parthenon frieze) to Greece, in exchange for a statue of the goddess Athena and an ancient geometric amphora.

Address: Piazza Olivella, 90133 Palermo (PA), Italy — located in the heart of Palermo’s historic center, within walking distance of many major attractions.

Opening Hours: Hours may vary seasonally; it is strongly recommended to check the official website or contact the museum before visiting. Generally open Tuesday–Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 or 7:00 PM. Closed on Mondays.

Tickets:

 • Full: €8.00

 • Reduced: €4.00 (EU citizens aged 18–25)

 • Free: Visitors under 18, teachers, and other categories as provided by law

 • Combined tickets and special promotions are often available during cultural events

Contacts:

 • Phone: +39 091 611 6815

 • Email: [email protected]

Official website: https://museosalinas.regione.sicilia.it/

Cover photo credits: Regional Archaeological Museum “Antonino Salinas,” Palermo