Palazzo Branciforte houses the Fondazione Sicilia Library on its ground floor, with approximately 50 thousand volumes. The Fondazione Sicilia Library plays a cultural role of major importance, offering books and periodicals which, for the most part, cannot be found in other city libraries or are difficult to access.
A large and varied section deals with the history of Sicily, history of art, coins and archaeology.
Inside the spacious reading hall on the first floor, encyclopaedias, annuals and dictionaries can be consulted, as well as periodicals, miscellany and monographs on a range of different subjects. The library’s ancient library fund boasts many publications printed between 1501 and 1830.
Two other estates of fundamental documental and historical importance are the Restivo Estate (which, donated by the heirs of Franco Restivo, the famous man of politics and Sicilian university professor, boasts approximately 8,000 volumes devoted to Sicily as well as to history, law, art, philosophy and literature) and the Spatrisano Estate (which includes the private library of architect Giuseppe Spatrisano, made up of about two thousand volumes, his designs and reliefs).
The hall is also home to a marvellous fresco by Ignazio Moncada di Paternò.
The Library also holds volumes belonging to the libraries of Banco di Sicilia SpA’s research office, Cassa di Risparmio Vittorio Emanuele per le Province Siciliane and Fondazione “Lauro Chiazzese” for arts and culture. It also houses many periodicals of Banco di Sicilia SpA, which are stored in Villa Zito.
The volumes held in Villa Zito will be available to consult in the library’s reading room in Palazzo Branciforte starting from the day after permission to consult is agreed.
Information
Opening hours: Monday – Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 (permission to consult can be required from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 15:00 to 16:30)
Regional library centre number: PA1
Library number: BS
Italian library register number: IT-PA0097
Download the library regulations
Download the request form for printed or scanned copies
GALLERY
Largo Gae Aulenti, 2, 90133 Palermo PA
Tel: +39.091.8887767 – +39.091.7657621 (ticket office)
info@palazzobranciforte.it
OPENING TIMES
From March 1st to October 31st: Tuesday – Sunday from 9.30 to 19.30 (last admission 18.30)
From November 1st to February 28th: Tuesday – Sunday from 9.30 to 14.30 (last admission 13.30)
Closed on Monday
TICKETS
Guided tour: € 7 (full price), € 5 (Reduced price: groups minimum 15 persons, the over 65 and special concessions)
Free tour (ground floor: Archaeology, Majolica): € 3 (without guided tour)
Schools and children under 18 admission free of charge
PRESS OFFICE CIVITA SICILIA
press@palazzobranciforte.it
Antonio Gerbino – gerbino@civita.it
Tel: +39.091.8887767 – +39.335.413512
