The historic Museo del Risorgimento 'Vittorio Emanuele Orlando' is housed on the ground floor of the former convent of San Domenico, which now serves as a headquarters for Società Siciliana di Storia Patria. The museum mostly contains collection of artifacts by the Italian President Alfonso Scansone during the First World War. Among these collections include the relic of Risorgimento times and photographs and dedications to the life of colonial revolutionary and statesman Francesco Crispi. Sculptors, paintings, flags, weapons and other important documents are also found at this museum. The museum is an apt dedication to great personalities of Italian history. Check their website for more details.
Considered as one of the world's greatest museums dedicated to puppets, Museo internazionale delle marionette Antonio Pasqualino features an extensive collection of puppets that are adorned with shiny armor and classic expressions. Boasting of Sicily's rich folk tradition, the museum reveals the rise of puppet theater during the ancient times. The museum also houses a collection of puppets crafted in the Eastern parts of world, including India and Indonesia.
The building combines architectural style and vision of space in a way that agrees with the business needs of the new capitalist class, the revival of trade and finance in Sicily. Built in the 18th Century, the building was a private residence until the early 20th Century. The building was purchased in 1921 by the Jungs - a Jewish family with roots in Switzerland who came to town in the 19th Century in order to establish an export of dried fruit, wood, citrus and sumac - who made the palazzo their residence, and remained the owners until 1958. Purchased in 1959 by the Provincial Agency for Tourism, the building was intended as a Professional Institute State Hotel, until the mid-1980s, when the Institute moved, leaving the residence in total neglect until 2000 when the province started restoration work. The neoclassical structure has strong appeal, as do many contemporary buildings of Palermo, which can be seen on the pediment, especially the entrance with columns and the narrow balconies. The palace overlooks Lincoln Street, and is practically right across from the Botanical Gardens.
Near the modern Fincantieri dockyard with its din of workers and machinery, there’s the majestic building of the ancient dockyard, known as the Arsenale Borbonico, as it was built in the mannerist style used during the Spanish domination (and the House of the Bourbons). On its facade one can still admire the fine Bourbon dynasty coat of arms. The project by Mariano Smiriglio was carried out between 1621 and 1630, and the Arsenale produced ships until 1845, many for the Spanish Royal Navy, such as the sciabecco ships used in the successful naval combats against Moroccan pirates. Scale models of these ancient ships are exposed inside the building which nowadays is a museum hosting temporary exhibitions, as well as a permanent one on the subject of sea traditions and culture. Here one can admire original ancient captaining books, and two imposing 18th-century cannons upon which the Bourbon coat of arms are impressed. The Arsenale is a bit out of the usual touristic tours, but the whole area around the monument is of great interest: right next to the building there’s the beautiful Marquis De Gregorio house, nearby there is the English Cemetery, the Montalbo Palace, the Smiriglio memorial, the Florio yard and Aquasanta thermal baths.
A major attraction in the city of Palermo, overlooking Palazzo De Gregorio while on your visit to the city would be an absolute sin. Formerly owned by the Duke of Palma, the house changed a couple of hands before being taken over by the government of Palermo. Now serving as a museum and tourist attraction, the palace displays the culture of yesteryear through ornate designs, elegant interiors and outstanding architecture.