Palazzo della Cuba
Norman pleasure pavilion of 1180 with a rectangular plan and Arab-inspired taste, in the ancient royal park of the Genoardo.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The name Cuba derives from the Arabic “qubba”, meaning “dome”. The pavilion was built in 1180 for King William II at the centre of a large park called Genoardo, from the Arabic “paradise on earth”. It was a place of delights where the king and his court could spend pleasant hours in the cool.
The building has a rectangular plan, with four tower-like bodies at the centre of each side; the most projecting one was the only access to the palace from the mainland. The outer walls, thick and with few windows to withstand the heat, are decorated with pointed arches. The interior was divided into three aligned and communicating rooms, with the remains of a marble fountain at the centre, a typical element of Arab architecture for cooling the air; the central hall was adorned with muqarnas.
La Cuba is also linked to literature: Boccaccio set one of the tales of the Decameron there, the sixth novella of the fifth day, which recounts the love story between Gian di Procida and Restituta.
Highlights
- Norman pavilion of 1180 with pointed arches
- Remains of the marble fountain in the central hall
- Muqarnas in the central hall
- Link to a tale in Boccaccio's Decameron
- Operated by
- Regione Siciliana
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.50visitors aged 18 to 25 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for under-18s. |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month
Free admission for members of the faculties of Letters and Philosophy, Art History and Architecture with a recognition card. Rates are taken from the tourist portal of the Comune di Palermo, which notes that the managing body may change them.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The tourist portal of the Comune di Palermo lists the site as accessible to people with disabilities and to blind people.
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
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
