Palermo has a talent for making you wait. Wait for the bus, wait for the church that’s “open until later”, wait for the waiter to notice you exist. But waiting for a museum? Seventeen years is a different league.
I’m talking about the Antonino Salinas archaeological museum, tucked behind Piazza Olivella, a short walk from Via Maqueda. Restoration started in 2009. The ground floor reopened in 2016, a multipurpose space called Agorà followed in 2017, and the re-display of the upper floors began in 2022. This week, according to ANSA, the work on the first and second floors is finally finished. The official inauguration is on 5 November, and then, on Friday 6 November, everyone gets in for free for the whole day.
Museo Salinas Palermo: what’s actually new
Here’s why I’d move it up your list. Founded in 1814, it’s the oldest museum institution in Sicily, and since 1866 it has occupied a 17th-century former convent of the Padri Filippini. Old courtyards first, galleries second. Not a bad deal on a hot afternoon, or a rainy one.
First floor: coins, jewellery and unexpected Etruscans
The first floor holds the historic collections: Bourbon-era donations, jewellery, and a coin cabinet that runs from the Phoenician period all the way to Garibaldi. That’s a lot of Sicilian history in a few glass cases. Then comes the Etruscan art from the Casuccini collection, which I find genuinely surprising. Etruscans, in Palermo! If I only had an hour, I’d slow down right here.
Second floor: the mosaic hall and finds nobody has seen
Upstairs is where the new part really gets going. The big Sala dei Mosaici is the headline, and next to it you’ll find a display on the 20th-century excavation campaigns in Palermo and western Sicily, including finds that have never been shown to the public before. Archaeology that still feels like a first look. That’s rare.
The old favourites you shouldn’t skip
Don’t let the new rooms steal the whole show. The Salinas has long been home to the Palermo Stone, a hieroglyphic inscription from around 2900 BC, the metopes from the temples of Selinunte, and a bronze ram from the 3rd century BC. The city’s official tourism page lists them among the highlights. One tip: if Selinunte is on your Sicily route, see the metopes here first. The ruins make a lot more sense afterwards.
Visiting on 6 November (and after)
Free entry on a Friday in a city this popular? Expect a queue. I’d be there at opening and head straight upstairs, where the new rooms are, and leave the ground floor for later. Arriving from the port or Politeama? The newly opened Porto and Politeama stations on Palermo’s rail ring make the way into the centre much easier, and the ring is free to ride until 31 January 2027.
- Address: Piazza Olivella 24, Palermo
- Usual hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9:00–18:30, Sunday and public holidays 9:00–13:00, closed Monday
- Usual tickets: €8, reduced €4, free for under-18s
Hours and prices come from the city’s tourism page, which itself warns they may be out of date, so check before you go, especially around the reopening.
Make a Palermo day of it
The museum sits right in the old town, so it pairs easily with a morning at Ballarò market. Eat first, art second, or you’ll be hungry in front of the Etruscan jewellery. If the market leaves you wanting more, my guide to Sicilian street food in Palermo has the rest of the route. Still planning the trip? Here’s the best time to visit Palermo, and for sunset afterwards, these places with a view in Palermo are worth the climb. And if ancient history has you hooked, the Capuchin Catacombs are the darker, stranger follow-up.
Seventeen years is a long time to wait for anything. Palermo being Palermo, I’m not even surprised. I’m just glad it’s done. Go, wander, and tell me which room you liked best.
Museo Salinas Palermo: Your Questions Answered
Is the Museo Salinas in Palermo free on 6 November?
Yes, the Museo Salinas is free to visit all day on Friday 6 November 2026. The museum is marking the completed restoration, with the official inauguration on 5 November. After that, regular ticket prices apply again, so it’s worth going early on the free day.
What is new at the Museo Salinas after the reopening?
Both upper floors are now fully restored and re-displayed. The first floor shows the historic collections, including Bourbon-era donations, Etruscan art from the Casuccini collection, jewellery and a coin cabinet. The second floor has the large Sala dei Mosaici and a display of 20th-century excavation finds, some never shown before.
How much does the Museo Salinas cost?
A full ticket normally costs €8 and a reduced ticket €4, according to the city of Palermo’s tourism page. Under-18s, teachers, tour guides and students of arts and architecture, among others, get in free. The Palermo Culture Pass (€25.60, valid 7 days) also covers the Salinas, the Steri, the Botanical Garden and Palazzo Riso. Prices can change, so check before you go.
What are the opening hours of the Museo Salinas?
The museum is usually open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:30 and on Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 to 13:00. It is closed on Mondays. These hours come from the city’s tourism page, which notes they may be out of date, so double-check around the reopening.
Where is the Museo Salinas and how do I get there?
The Museo Salinas is at Piazza Olivella 24 in Palermo’s historic centre, a few minutes’ walk from Teatro Massimo. It is easy to reach on foot from most central hotels. It’s housed in a 17th-century former convent of the Padri Filippini.
How long do you need at the Museo Salinas?
Plan about two hours for a good visit, and three if you love archaeology. That gives you time for both new upper floors and the classics like the Palermo Stone and the Selinunte metopes. On a free-entry day, add some time for the queue.
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