Palazzo Asmundo's noble floor in Palermo listed for €5.4 million

Pier Luigi Martorana Genuardi has put the noble floor of Palazzo Asmundo up for sale at €5.4 million. The 18th-century palace, completed in 1767, overlooks Palermo Cathedral on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Once a museum attracting 70,000 visitors annually, it now faces closure due to unsustainable management costs and what the owner calls a "short-sighted policy on cultural heritage." The sale is handled by Italy Sotheby's International Realty and covers approximately 1,500 square meters, including 600 square meters of frescoed rooms and 200 square meters of basement spaces housing the Argento family's Sicilian puppet theater. The collections are not included unless a buyer is interested in the current use. Martorana Genuardi expressed openness to co-management if sponsors or buyers come forward. The palace features allegorical frescoes by Gioacchino Martorana in Baroque style and served as the set for Vittorio De Sica's 1974 film "Il Viaggio" starring Sophia Loren and Richard Burton. Visitor numbers dropped to 6,000 in 2023, with the palace open only 4-5 months a year. Monthly restoration and maintenance costs average €3,000-4,000. Over the past 15 years, much of the map and arms collections, as well as Frederick II's augustalis coin, have been sold.