Palazzo Pantelleria-Varvaro, Museum in a historic palazzo in central Palermo, Italy
Palais Pantelleria-Varvaro is a museum housed in a noble palazzo in the historic center of Palermo, on Piazza Giovanni Meli. The building has high ceilings painted with mythological scenes, an inner courtyard, and a Gothic entrance portal dating to the 15th century.
The palazzo was built at the end of the 15th century by the Requesens family, Spanish nobles connected to the Viceroyalty of Sicily. In the early 19th century, the main rooms were decorated with mythological paintings by the artist Giovanni Enea, before the building was sold in 1835 to the cloth merchant Francesco Varvaro Querola.
The Palazzo Pantelleria-Varvaro hosts a tango school run by an Argentine teacher, who has built a following among Palermo residents. Evenings of music and social dancing take place in the same rooms where aristocrats once entertained their guests.
The palazzo sits in the historic center of Palermo and can easily be reached on foot from the surrounding streets. Since visits are often tied to scheduled events or guided tours with small groups, it is worth checking the website before you go.
The inner courtyard of the palazzo contains a ficus magnolia planted in the late 19th century, known for its unusually tall aerial roots. It is considered one of the rarest examples of its kind in Europe.
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