Museo Giardino Santa Rosalia in Palermo Advances as Archaeological Excavations End
Two years following the announcement of the Museo Giardino Santa Rosalia in Palermo, the project by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects has been updated by Fondazione Sicilia. On the feast day of Santa Rosalia, Maria Concetta Di Natale revealed that preparatory stages have been completed, which include securing the building permit from the Comune di Palermo and conducting archaeological studies. Construction is pending approval from the Soprintendenza. Launched in 2022, this initiative aims to establish a cultural center featuring a 1500-square-meter hanging garden. In 2024, Raffaele Bonsignore highlighted the city council’s decision to allow private investment in Palermo's historic area, fostering green and sustainable development. The design, inspired by Arab-Norman gardens, includes a 'transparent case.' MCA is also engaged in various other cultural endeavors.
Key facts
- The Museo Giardino Santa Rosalia project in Palermo was announced two years ago and is promoted by the Fondazione Sicilia.
- The design is by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, with green spaces by Greencure landscaping (Marilena Baggio).
- All preparatory phases, including building permit and archaeological excavations, are complete; construction awaits Soprintendenza authorization.
- The project includes a 1500-square-meter hanging garden and will host cultural offerings of Palazzo Branciforte and Fondazione Sicilia.
- In 2024, the city council approved a resolution allowing a private entity to intervene in the historic center in derogation of the master plan.
- Maria Concetta Di Natale is the current president of Fondazione Sicilia; Raffaele Bonsignore is president emeritus.
- MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects is also working on the Biblioteca Federiciana di Fano, a theater in Volterra prison, and the Teatro di Consagra in Gibellina.
- The project is inspired by Arab-Norman gardens and historic Palermo green salons.
Entities
Artists
- Mario Cucinella
- Maria Concetta Di Natale
- Raffaele Bonsignore
- Marilena Baggio
- Valentina Silvestrini
Institutions
- Fondazione Sicilia
- MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects
- Greencure landscaping
- Comune di Palermo
- Soprintendenza
- Palazzo Branciforte
- Museo d'Arte Fondazione Luigi Rovati
- Biblioteca Federiciana di Fano
- Casa di Reclusione di Volterra
- Teatro di Consagra
- Artribune
- Villa Zito
Locations
- Palermo
- Italy
- Sicily
- Milan
- Fano
- Marche
- Volterra
- Pisa
- Gibellina
- Venice
- Piazza Guzzetta
- Via Bara all'Olivella
- Palazzo Branciforte
- Villa Zito