Museo Civico (Civic Museum), Catania

The Civic Museum of Catania offers an introduction to the city’s artistic and historical heritage, housed within the imposing walls of Ursino Castle. Built in the 13th century for Emperor Frederick II as a royal fortress of the Kingdom of Sicily, the castle later served as the seat of the Sicilian Parliament during the Sicilian Vespers. Remarkably well preserved, it is one of the few medieval structures in Catania to survive the earthquake of 1693.

The museum took its modern form in 1934, when Guido Libertini, Superintendent of Antiquities, relocated several major collections here following the closure of the Biscari Museum. Ursino Castle brought together archaeology, sculpture, and fine art under one roof. Today, these collections trace Catania’s development from antiquity through the early modern period.

Inside, the rectangular castle is organized around an open-air courtyard, with four circular towers anchoring its corners. The ground floor focuses on archaeology and ancient history, displaying Greek and Roman statues, mosaics, vases, and a renowned collection of Hellenistic and Roman bronze figurines. This level also includes the Arms Room, while the walls of the corridors and courtyard preserve carved names, symbols, and inscriptions left by prisoners from the centuries when the castle served as a jail.

The upper floor shifts to painting and sculpture from the 17th and 18th centuries, featuring works by Matthias Stom, Pietro Novelli, Mario Minniti, and artists influenced by Caravaggio, with some rooms dedicated to individual masters. Additional sections display numismatics, engravings, and the Epigraphs of the Early Christians.