Museo naturalistico Francesco Minà Palumbo

About the museum

The museum holds the scientific collections of the physician and naturalist Francesco Minà Palumbo (1814–1899) of Castelbuono, who for decades studied the flora, fauna and geology of the Madonie and was in contact with some 350 correspondents in Sicily, Italy and other European countries. The donation by his heirs to the municipality, around 1965, gave rise to the museum.

The collections had various temporary homes: the Ventimiglia castle, the former prison and the Badia. In 2017 they were moved to the former convent of the Conventual Franciscans next to the church of San Francesco, with a cloister built in the 18th century as an extension of the older building. The complex also includes the church, founded in 1317, and the Ventimiglia mausoleum.

Thanks to funding from the PNRR (Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan), the museum was renovated to make it more accessible and reopened to the public on 19 July 2025. The new route includes panels and display cases with more legible texts, tactile reproductions, two immersive dioramas and a multimedia app for independent visits. In addition to the botanical, zoological, mineralogical, palaeontological and archaeological finds, the museum holds the naturalist’s historic library, his correspondence and the plates of natural history iconography.

Highlights

• Historic herbarium of Francesco Minà Palumbo
• Entomology, malacology and vertebrate collections
• Mineralogy, palaeontology and archaeology collections
• Galleria della Manna and historic library
• Two immersive dioramas and multimedia app for visits

Permanent exhibition

• Collezioni naturalistiche di Francesco Minà Palumbo – The route presents the herbarium, minerals, fossils, insects, molluscs, vertebrates and archaeological finds gathered by the naturalist in the 19th century, together with the natural history gallery and the Galleria della Manna.

Founded

1965

Operated by

Comune di Castelbuono

Visitors per year

approx. 4,393

Admission & discounts

Admission is also free for schools in Castelbuono.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Following the PNRR-funded renovation, the route offers more legible texts and graphics, Braille elements and 3D-printed tactile reproductions; the multimedia app uses sensors to trigger additional content when the smartphone is held close.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop with the museum’s publications.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum spaces can be hired.

Plan your visit