Palazzo Butera

Overlooking the sea of Palermo, between the Mura delle Cattive and the Kalsa district, Palazzo Butera stands as an architectural horizon upon which the gaze of every sea traveler has rested for centuries. This monumental residence dominating the Foro Italico is no longer just a testament to past noble splendor, but a living cultural organism that today blends history and the avant-garde.

Acquired by the Branciforte family in 1718, the palace became the most prestigious in the city, so much so that even Goethe, in his Italian Journey, dedicated words of profound wonder to it. Its structure bears witness to an overlapping of styles and eras: from the 17th-century core to the late-Baroque renovations, up to the monumental transformation commissioned by the Prince of Butera, which linked the building to the “Cattive” promenade.

After centuries of transformation and a slow decline, the intervention of Massimo and Francesca Valsecchi gave life to a philological and visionary restoration. The interiors engage with a world-class art collection: the baroque theatricality of the frescoes by Gioacchino Martorana and the solemn classicism of the paintings by Annibale Carracci merge with the romantic landscapes of Edward Lear’s watercolors, finding a unique synthesis in the contemporary provocations of the large-scale photographic installations by Gilbert & George.

The black basalt ceramics by the famous Wedgwood, the rare cabinetry pieces by Augustus Pugin, and the revolutionary linearity of the furnishings by William Morris and Christopher Dresser tell of an unprecedented link between Palermo and European design, tailored to contemporary sensitivity.

Within the palace walls, the enchantment of the winter garden unfolds. At the top of the building, the majestic panoramic terrace allows you to lose yourself in the blue of the Gulf of Palermo. To learn more about the history and collections, visit Palazzo Butera.