Palazzo Butera

Palazzo Butera stands at Via Butera 8 on the seafront edge of the Kalsa district in Palermo, Sicily, about twelve minutes on foot from Quattro Canti toward the Foro Italico. The 18th-century Baroque palace was built for the Branciforte family, princes of Butera, and later fell into decline. It was bought and restored as a private art museum in recent years, and it now opens to the public. The interior has large reception rooms with frescoed ceilings and decorated floors, and a collection of Sicilian and European art, furniture and other objects assembled by the current owners. The sea-facing terrace gives a view over the harbour and the coast, and it is the part of the visit many people remember most. The restoration deliberately keeps some of the building's worn surfaces visible alongside the repaired ones, which shows how the palace aged. A visit takes one to one and a half hours, and guided visits are possible. The palace is open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on Monday and Tuesday. Admission is about EUR 12, with reductions, though prices vary with tours and exhibitions, so check palazzobutera.it before going. Late afternoon is a good time for the light on the terrace and the sea. The palace is less visited than the centre's main churches, so it is generally calm. Photography rules differ by room, so follow the signs. The Foro Italico seafront promenade and the Kalsa lanes are close by.