Museo Biscari, Archaeological museum in central Catania, Italy
The Museo Biscari occupies a baroque palace in central Catania and displays ancient objects and artworks housed in lavishly decorated rooms. The building itself showcases how wealthy families lived during the 18th century, with period furniture and ornate wall decorations throughout.
A Duke founded this museum in 1758 and commissioned an architect to design dedicated rooms for his expanding collection of ancient pieces. In 1927, most of the objects were moved to a fortress, leaving only selected items in the original palace.
The Biscari name reflects the family who lived here and built the collections over generations. Visitors today still sense that personal collecting passion throughout the ornately decorated rooms.
The museum opens during the day with a midday break and sits in a central location that is easy to reach on foot. It helps to check the current opening hours before your visit, as these can vary by season.
The building contains about 700 rooms, making it one of Europe's largest private palaces and a real maze for visitors to explore. One can spend hours inside and still discover overlooked corners and passages.
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