Museo dell'Islam, Museum of Islamic Art in Piazza Zisa, Palermo, Italy.
Description
The Museum of Islamic Art occupies three floors within the Zisa Palace and displays ceramics, textiles, manuscripts, and decorative pieces from different Islamic periods. The rooms preserve objects that show the artistic and craft traditions of these eras.
History
The Zisa Palace was built between 1165 and 1180 as a summer residence for Norman King William II. The museum was created later to preserve and share the Islamic artworks and objects with the public.
Culture
The collection shows how Sicily and North Africa were deeply connected through trade and daily life over many centuries. You can see this connection in the craftsmanship and materials that traveled between the two regions.
Practical
The museum is open most days of the week, though hours on weekends may be shorter. Visitors should allow enough time to explore all three floors and view the collections at a comfortable pace.
Did you know?
At the center of the palace is a fountain room with ornate plaster vaults decorated with Arabic inscriptions honoring King William II. This space shows the skilled blending of Norman and Islamic architectural styles that defines Sicily's past.
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