Museo delle Maioliche Stanze al Genio (Museum of Tiles), Palermo
Located inside Palazzo Torre-Piraino, the Stanze al Genio museum house contains the world's most extensive collection of Sicilian and Neapolitan majolica tiles, built between the 15th and 20th centuries for the nobility, the rich bourgeoisie, and religious communities.
Each of the eight rooms has both antique and contemporary furnishings as well as old toys, tin boxes, vintage stationery, and various other vintage items. The majolica exhibition is divided by age and by production centers, and the tours (led by the person who is the buyer for the collection) provide plenty of information without being overwhelming.
Visitors are allowed ample time to view and photograph the collection, but since it's a private house advance reservations (either by phone or email) are necessary. Show up at the proper time, ring the buzzer, and after checking your name, they will buzz you in!
Tip:
The room where you gather after entering the building is also a bit of a gift shop, with refrigerator magnets and paper reproductions of tiles for sale.
Guided Tours (45min):
Tue-Sun: 10am, 3pm (English); 11am, 4pm (Italian)
Each of the eight rooms has both antique and contemporary furnishings as well as old toys, tin boxes, vintage stationery, and various other vintage items. The majolica exhibition is divided by age and by production centers, and the tours (led by the person who is the buyer for the collection) provide plenty of information without being overwhelming.
Visitors are allowed ample time to view and photograph the collection, but since it's a private house advance reservations (either by phone or email) are necessary. Show up at the proper time, ring the buzzer, and after checking your name, they will buzz you in!
Tip:
The room where you gather after entering the building is also a bit of a gift shop, with refrigerator magnets and paper reproductions of tiles for sale.
Guided Tours (45min):
Tue-Sun: 10am, 3pm (English); 11am, 4pm (Italian)
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Palermo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Museo delle Maioliche Stanze al Genio (Museum of Tiles) on Map
Sight Name: Museo delle Maioliche Stanze al Genio (Museum of Tiles)
Sight Location: Palermo, Italy (See walking tours in Palermo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Sight Location: Palermo, Italy (See walking tours in Palermo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Walking Tours in Palermo, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Palermo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Palermo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Palermo Introduction Walking Tour
Around 8,000 BC, people called Sicani drew pictures in a cave outside Palermo. The scene shows a ritual sacrifice in the theatre. Was it a paleolithic foreshadowing of the temples, churches, and cathedrals to come?
The Sicani were succeeded by the Phoenicians. They made a settlement called Ziz which eventually became Palermo. But first, the Greeks, followed by the Carthaginians, followed by the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
The Sicani were succeeded by the Phoenicians. They made a settlement called Ziz which eventually became Palermo. But first, the Greeks, followed by the Carthaginians, followed by the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
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In the course of history, many... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
In the course of history, many... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
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For centuries, Sicilian capital Palermo has been a focal point for the construction of noble dwellings and palaces. The latter were and still are a fine manifestation of the historical life in the region. They are a few hundred of them still in place, ranging chronologically from the medieval period to the first decades of the 20th century, and comprising an impressive collection of architectural... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles