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Opening hours

The Museum is open to the public every day:
9.30am – 1.00pm and 3.00pm – 6.30pm

Winter opening hours:
November to March
Open to the public every day from 9.30am to 4.45pm

Summer opening hours:
April to October
Open to the public every day from 09:30 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:30

The following sections and museum areas are open to visitors:

Temporary exhibitions
Archeology
Urban planning
Contemporary art
Cappella Palatina
The Orto dell'Arte

The Sacred Art Section remains temporarily closed to the public to allow for maintenance work and the progress of enhancement and accessibility works funded by the PNRR.

The exact date of reopening of all museum areas will be announced as soon as it is definitively confirmed.
We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Tickets can be purchased on site at the Castelbuono Civic Museum, Castello dei Ventimiglia.

Concessionary ticket: €4.00 for visitors aged 8 to 18, over-65s and groups of more than 12 visitors, other concessions

Ticket for residents and those born in Castelbuono, other concessions: €2.00

Free admission: children up to 7 years old, people with disabilities and one accompanying person, teachers (only when accompanying school groups), tour guides with groups, students enrolled at Academies of Fine Arts and faculties of Architecture, ICOM members, accredited journalists, other concessions.

Group rates
The reduced rate of €4 applies to groups of over 12 visitors.

Download the brochure

                    

Castelbuono Civic Museum and the ‘Sunday at the Museum’ initiative

The Castelbuono Civic Museum is a municipal museum, independent of the network of Italian state museums. For this reason, it does not participate in the ‘Sunday at the Museum’ initiative promoted by the Ministry of Culture, which offers free admission to state museums on the first Sunday of the month.

Free and discounted admission throughout the year. The Museum offers free or discounted admission on special occasions:

• Feast of Saint Anne (26 and 27 July) — free admission to celebrate the patron saint of Castelbuono
• Exhibition openings — discounted admission for visitors attending exhibition openings
• Other national initiatives announced from time to time via the museum’s official channels

Guided tours of the Castelbuono Civic Museum

Visitors can deepen their knowledge of the museum and the cultural heritage of Castelbuono by booking guided tours organised by Pro Loco Castelbuono, led by expert members with deep roots in the local area, who are able to recount local history, art and traditions with expertise and passion.

Info and bookings: https://www.prolococastelbuono.it/

Educational pathways for children and young people
Download the pathways 

FAI Spring Days
Every year, the Castelbuono Civic Museum takes part in the FAI Spring Days with an event much loved by the public: tours led by students from the Liceo Scientifico di Castelbuono, acting as apprentice guides in medieval costume. The Castle comes back to life as it was in the days of the Ventimiglia family, through the voices and eyes of the local young people.

When: every March — check the events calendar for dates and details.

How to get to the Castelbuono Civic Museum (Castello dei Ventimiglia)

The Castelbuono Civic Museum is located in the heart of the historic centre, within the Castello dei Ventimiglia, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

How to get to Castelbuono
Castelbuono is easily accessible by both car and public transport, and is one of the main cultural destinations in Sicily and the Madonie region.

By car: access via the A20 Palermo–Messina motorway (Pollina-Castelbuono exit), with a direct link to the town centre

By train: Cefalù railway station, from where you can continue on to Castelbuono

By bus: regular services (Sais Trasporti and AST) to Palermo and the main towns in the Madonie

Parking and access to the historic centre
The historic centre of Castelbuono is characterised by charming streets and pedestrian walkways.
Parking areas are available in the neighbourhoods surrounding the centre, from where you can reach the museum with a short walk, passing through the town centre and fully experiencing the atmosphere of the village.

Accessibility

At the Castelbuono Civic Museum, every visitor is welcome.
Staff are always on hand to assist anyone who needs help during their visit.

The Museum is housed in the Castello dei Ventimiglia, a monumental 14th-century complex. The historic building features routes across several floors accessible via stairs. Clear signage and information panels are provided on every floor throughout the route.

Access to the museum is via the main entrance on Piazza del Castello.

Download the map of the museum sections > DOWNLOAD

Ground floor

Al Piano Terra sono accessibili:

• The main entrance hall
• An accessible toilet
• The educational workshop
• The Sala San Giorgio, featuring the first part of the permanent collection of contemporary art.

Work is currently underway to create an accessible entrance at the rear of the castle: an external walkway will lead to the inner courtyard, allowing visitors to reach the various floors of the castle via lifts.

Mezzanine Floor — Archaeology and Urban Planning Section

On the mezzanine floor, accessible via stairs, are the Archaeology and Urban Planning sections, which trace the history of the Castle and the town of Castelbuono from its medieval origins through to its urban development.

First Floor — Contemporary Art

The first floor houses the Contemporary Art section, featuring panels and captions in simplified format, in Italian and English, and QR codes linking to in-depth audiovisual content online.
Some rooms on this floor are not fully accessible.
Here you can view an overview of some of the works on display > DOWNLOAD

The tour includes a room entirely dedicated to photography, featuring works by Letizia Battaglia, Lisetta Carmi and Melo Minnella.

Second Floor — Sacred Art and the Palatine Chapel

On the second floor are the Sacred Art section, the Palatine Chapel of Saint Anne and the Sala del Principe conference room, all of which are fully accessible. The tour includes audio guides in Italian and English and tactile elements to facilitate engagement with the exhibits.
A second toilet is available on the second floor.

The Orto dell’Arte

The Orto dell’Arte is located outside the castle. For information on the most suitable route, staff are available at the ticket office.

Wheelchairs and pushchairs

Wheelchairs and pushchairs are permitted in the museum. Due to the multi-storey layout with stairs, some areas of the route may prove difficult. Staff are available to advise on the route best suited to your needs.

Food and drink

It is recommended that you refrain from consuming food or drink inside the museum, to protect the artworks and historic surroundings.

Luggage storage
Upon request, the museum provides a space where you can leave bulky items during your visit. This service is provided by staff at the ticket office.

The Museum is committed to ensuring a welcoming visitor experience, whilst respecting the architectural features of the historic complex that houses it.

For specific requirements or to better organise your visit, please contact the museum in advance.

Info

For information on exhibitions, events, activities and tours, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Address:
Castelbuono Civic Museum

Castello dei Ventimiglia
Piazza Castello, Castelbuono (PA) 90013

Ticket Office: +39 0921.671211
Administration: +39 0921.677126
Email: info@museocivico.eu