Palazzo Abatellis (Abatellis Palace), Palermo

Abatellis Palace (Palazzo Abatellis), also known as Palazzo Patella, is located in the historic Kalsa quarter of Palermo. This grand palace is the setting for the Galleria Regionale della Sicilia, Sicily's premier art gallery, which showcases a vast collection of art historically linked to the region.

The palace became the repository of numerous significant artworks following the suppression of various religious orders in 1866. Initially stored in the Pinacoteca della Regia Università and later transferred to the Museo Nazionale of Palermo, these works found their permanent home at Abatellis Palace when Sicily gained autonomous status.

The ground floor of the palace houses an impressive range of artworks. Visitors can find ancient 12th-century wooden artifacts alongside 14th and 15th-century artworks, including creations by Antonello Gagini. There are also beautifully painted maiolica pieces from the 14th to the 17th centuries, as well as the 15th-century Bust of a Gentlewoman by Francesco Laurana. Notable too is the grand fresco of the Triumph of Death, believed to have been painted around 1445, and displayed in what was formerly the chapel.

The first floor of the palace is even more captivating with its collection of Renaissance masterpieces. It boasts the Virgin Annunciate by Antonello da Messina, a 15th-century work that ranks among the finest Renaissance paintings in Italy. The same artist's depictions of Saint Augustine, Saint Gregory the Great, and Saint Jerome, originally part of a now-destroyed polyptych, are also on display. The gallery includes Saint Agatha’s Vision of Saint Peter in Prison by Vouet, as well as the Netherlandish Malvagna Triptych by Jan Gossaert and Gerard David, and Jan Provost’s Deposition. Additionally, the museum showcases a portrayal of Moses by Pietro Novelli.

Abatellis Palace thus serves not only as a magnificent example of historical architecture but also as a treasure trove of art that narrates the rich cultural and religious history of Sicily. Visitors to the palace can immerse themselves in the art and history of the region, preserved and presented in this remarkable setting.