Riso Palace and Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily

The Riso Palace is the seat of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea della Sicilia).

Presentation of the Riso Palace

Since the end of the 16th century, the Afflitto Palace stood here, rebuilt in the 18th century, and which changed owners several times, including the Baron Riso in the 19th century. Its style is marked by the transition between the late Baroque and Neoclassicism.
The facade, sober and symmetrical, retains Baroque elements such as elaborate cornices and windows with pediments, while the interior features Neoclassical volumes and monumental staircases typical of the 18th century.

Interior of the palace

Seat of the Fascist party, it was bombed in 1943, and only the facade remained standing. The reconstruction adapted the interior to accommodate modular exhibition spaces.
After a restoration, it became in 2008 the seat of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea della Sicilia).

Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily

It is one of the most important contemporary art museums in Sicily. A first section contains works covering the last sixty years with mostly Sicilian artists. The permanent collection notably includes works by Carla Accardi, Emilio Isgrò, Piero Guccione, and other contemporary Sicilian artists, with an emphasis on plastic experimentation and research on the Sicilian territory.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, renewed every semester, often in partnership with international institutions and contemporary art biennials.

Where is the Riso Palace and Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily

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Articles: Museums of Palermo