Located on the second floor of Teatro Politeama, this little gallery of mostly 19th- and early-20th-century Sicilian art seems to be a local secret. Since 1910, the art-loving citizens of Palermo have been coming here to see works by home-grown artists.

Be aware that few of the artists' names will be immediately recognizable to the international visitor, and some of the work is overly romanticized and a bit sappy.

But the museum does contain works by major artists.

Look for pieces by Corrada Cagli, Carlo Carrà, Gino Severini, Giovanni Boldini, Antonio Mancini, and Domenico Morelli. Michele Catti, one of the finest landscape painters, is an artist of "long horizons," and his Last Leaves here is typical of his work.

One of the most reproduced works of art from this museum is Carusi, by Onofrio Tomaselli. The figure on the left rests while those on the right are beasts of burden with heavy loads.

The Sicilian portraits of Salvatore Lo Forte are especially realistic, and Sicilian patriotism is best evoked in the works of Erulo Eruli, whose masterpiece is The Sicilian Vesper.

One of the most delightful sculptures is the marble Faun, by Trentacoste.

Open Hours

Tues-Sat 9am-8pm; Sun 9am-1pm

Prices

Admission 3.10€ ($3.70) adults, free for children 17 and under and seniors 66 and over

Transportation

Bus: 101, 102, 103, 106, 108, 124, or 134