One of the most whimsical buildings in Sicily

What to expect

The beauty of Sicily
Construction of the villa, under the guidance of architect Tommaso Maria Napoli, began in 1715, lasted about five years, and was conceived simply as a country residence in the Baroque style. Perhaps the founder's grandson was particularly extravagant - many even call him mentally ill - but it was he who ordered the palace to be decorated with 600 figures of monsters and creatures. To this day, 64 have been preserved. Strange sculptures reach out to you from the walls of the mirrored hall, and monsters hang from the fence.

A visit to Villa Palagonia can be combined with a tour of:

• the museum of the famous artist and peace activist Renato Guttuso. He participated in the Resistance during World War II and in 1962 was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Academy of Arts of the USSR. He is recognized as one of the greatest contemporary painters;
• the toy museum, where exhibits from the 16th century onwards are collected;
• other villas that Bagheria is rich in. Sometimes you can even be allowed into the villa used to film "The Godfather"!

If you are interested not only in history and antiquities, but also in modern Sicilian life, you will definitely enjoy visiting the real fish market. Around three o'clock in the afternoon, local fishermen return to the port and sell their catch right on the pier!