Palazzo Biscari
Palazzo Biscari
4.5
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Art Museums
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About
The most important private palace in Catania and precious testimony of the Sicilian baroque. The frescoed halls, full of charm and elegance, represent a splendid setting for concerts, meetings, receptions, gala evenings, fashion shows.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Centro Catania
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1,155 within 5 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
501 reviews
Excellent
334
Very good
114
Average
29
Poor
11
Terrible
13
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands3,579 contributions
Dec 2022
Completed in 1763, this one storey Baroque palace is overlooking the marina. The Biscari family clearly liked to show its wealth and assigned several artists to decorate the building. Inside the ceilings and walls reveal colourful frescoes. Sculpture work adorns the windows and portal.
Visiting hours are not always clear as the palace halls are for rent. Often there are wedding parties, ceremonies or fairs. Ask the guard at the entrance about when visits are possible.
Visiting hours are not always clear as the palace halls are for rent. Often there are wedding parties, ceremonies or fairs. Ask the guard at the entrance about when visits are possible.
Written 4 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jill A
129 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We have been to Catania before and wanted to visit the palazzo but it has limited opening and we weren't able to be there at the right time for the tour. You can't go in except on a tour. We just turned up today and were lucky there was a tour in half an hour. We even got the Prince himself. The palazzo is beautiful and a bit crazy and worth a visit. But you don't see much of it I think it s huge? And to be honest the Prince clearly has his script all off pat now and he wasnt the least bit interested in any comments we might make or questions we might have. He was on auto pilot. Then suddenly he vanished. We weren't sure what had happened....was he coming back? Had he been called away on an aristocratic emergency?? He didn't tell us the tour was finished or say goodbye. Puzzled, we asked at the entrance I told a girl there he had just suddenly vanished and she said yes he does that and we were basically dismissed. In a way it was quite funny but in another it was really rude and not what you would expect from someone who might consider himself a bit above us ordinary mortals. Very. Odd. He tells a good tale and the family history has some great tragedies and skeletons in the closet and he clearly revels in telling it all and there's a sense of fun in his delivery.
Written 11 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Adrian W
South East England, UK83 contributions
May 2022
Every year we've gone, we wanted to visit this Palazzo, but it was always closed; this year, we met a lovely Chinese lady (from Oxford) - Maria, who made a phone call, and persuaded the (curator?) to open up and let us walk around, instead of being with an organised tour party. Its not huge inside, but the rooms are beautiful and worth seeing.
Written 6 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MLM2666
London, UK49 contributions
May 2022
Very atmospheric beautiful palace. Took great photos. The tour with Biscari looked great, they were all laughing but the guy taking the tour in English seemed less fun. Well worth a visit
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
InTheMomentManhattan
New York City, NY1,122 contributions
Feb 2022
Our English tour was conduted by the Prince himself. He offered fascinating insights into the hisotry of the Palazzo and his family. He was very engaging and humorous. The tour is not very long and very much worth the investment of time.
Written 19 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ElisabettaR17
Tampa, FL85 contributions
Nov 2021
Beautiful private palace ib the heart of Catania with heaps of history. One of the descendents, Mr Ruggero, guides you through his house and the century of family history with humor and charm. Call to arrange a private tour. Not to be missed.
Written 29 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Danishgirl123
Copenhagen, Denmark42 contributions
Sep 2021
A really pleasent surprise. Everything looks like it did ages ago. I like that they had not tried to update or change anything. Well worth a visit.
Written 19 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
WhistlingBear
Manningtree, UK222 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Firstly, please understand that this Palazzo is fascinating and still inhabited by the direct disendants of the founder.
The furniture, decorations, ceilings and possessions are all wonderful and well worth seeing.
My gripe is that, even though the online booking system asked our country of origin before allowing us to book, we arrived to be told the tour was only in English and French that day and so we had to show ourselves around.
There is no guide book or written explainations of the decor, history or artifacts so we were more than a little disappointed.
I have some Italian so hovered near the guide at some points so I could explain what infomation I gleaned to my wife but, if course, it could have been so much better.
My advice is this:
1) Check directly if there is a tour in your language
2) Read up as much as possible before you go.
Even after this experience I can confirm it is worth a visit.
The furniture, decorations, ceilings and possessions are all wonderful and well worth seeing.
My gripe is that, even though the online booking system asked our country of origin before allowing us to book, we arrived to be told the tour was only in English and French that day and so we had to show ourselves around.
There is no guide book or written explainations of the decor, history or artifacts so we were more than a little disappointed.
I have some Italian so hovered near the guide at some points so I could explain what infomation I gleaned to my wife but, if course, it could have been so much better.
My advice is this:
1) Check directly if there is a tour in your language
2) Read up as much as possible before you go.
Even after this experience I can confirm it is worth a visit.
Written 14 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ana L
Navan, Ireland2,701 contributions
Sep 2020
At the moment, you need to book tickets for the guided visit. They have tours in English and Italian every hour, and the tour lasts around 30 min. The main room has a wonderful ceiling that is totally worth a visit! Other smaller rooms have nice wooden works.
Written 6 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
patpado
Sicily, Italy3 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
The palace is magnificent and the tour conducted by the owner and the heir of the palace is unique. It is recommended that you contact the host beforehand to learn about possible visit hours.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bonjour, nous voulons visiter le palais demain, aux alentours de 14 heures, que devons nous faire? Merci d ' avance pour les informations. Ada
862lorenzo
Catania, Italy3 contributions
Good afternoon,
visits are on appointment
please call at +390957152508
Orari di ingresso
862lorenzo
Catania, Italy3 contributions
Buongiorno,
le visite sono su prenotazione
deve chiamare alo 095 7152508
e prendere appuntamento
grazie
Matthieu F
Toulouse, France96 contributions
Bonjour, quels sont les horaires des visites svp ? Car nous arriverons le 31-08 vers 16h-17h. Merciii, Matthieu.
Perkadventures
Banning, CA15,292 contributions
We are interested in touring Palazzo Biscari in May. We arrive Cantani on Thursday 9 May and would be available to tour the Palazzon in the afternoon or on Friday 10 May at any time.
Can we make reservations to accomplish this for a group of 4 people? About how much time would you suggest to accomplish this tour? Is there a cost involved for the tour?
Thank You In-Advance for your help.
Regards,
Paul Perkins
Lari22a
Moscow, Russia233 contributions
Paul, hello!
Palazzo Biscari do have a website “palazzobiscari-dot-c o m” (for some reason I cannot type here the proper website address, so I hope you understand what is the address)
They also have email address and telephone number, please check their website for information. We had only half day in Catania and could not sign for the regular tour they have by schedule, so we decided to ask for a private one.
We contacted them with a very short notice, so we did not expect any quick “ok” for visit on the day/time we were in Catania. So we passed by to take pictures and fell into conversation with the security guard at the gate. We were lucky because at that moment the lord (owner) came to the gate and we asked him to show us around, which he did. He is an amiable person)) Our spontaneous visit was short as the lord was busy preparing a reception for a party. But it was enough to walk around the palace and take a lot of pictures of this beautiful place. In case you plan in advance you may check the tour schedule or ask for a private tour. We left 10 euro each for palace maintenance but we were not asked to pay because our tour was short.
Hope this helps
Kind regards
Larisa
SulNorte
Munich, Germany341 contributions
Zwischen 19. und 29. März 2019 sind wir, zwei Personen, in Catania. Ist in dieser Zeit eine Möglichkeit der Besichtigungen?
862lorenzo
Catania, Italy3 contributions
Good morning
please call at
+39 0957152508
or write at
email address
to reserve
Nywoman
New York City, NY15 contributions
Are there any musical performances December 13 or 14?
What are the opening hours December 14 and 15.
862lorenzo
Catania, Italy3 contributions
Hallo,
concerts for those dates are still to be confirmed.
Visits are organised on appointment, I suggest you contact us few days before,
regards
Margherita
117 contributions
buongiorno. gradirei sapere quale è il costo della visita e se sia necessario prenotare. grazie mille
626ginger
Rovereto, Italy98 contributions
Non mi risulta sia previsto un costo per accedere alla visita guidata. Nel caso mio non é stato necessario prenotare. Ho avuto la fortuna di intervenire ad inizio visita guidata.
SilviaDaireaux
Daireaux25 contributions
me gustaría saber de esta y otras atracciones de Catania cual es el costo y los horarios de visita Gracias
viajerasenior
Barcelona, Spain265 contributions
Tengo un lio respecto a como poder visitarlo, sólo tengo la tarde del miércoles 27 o la mañana del 28 jueves (Abril) y no estaré antes en Catania para hacer ninguna gestión ¿me puedes aconsejar?
Gracias
sonia c
Florence, Italy29 contributions
Oggi è aperto? Con che orario?
Francesca T
Portoferraio, Italy21 contributions
Ciao quello che posso consigliare è di telefonare prima di recarsi sul luogo, io ho fatto così per prenotare la visita, e merita davvero!!
Francesca
PALAZZO BISCARI (Catania) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Palazzo Biscari
- Hotels near Palazzo Biscari:
- (0.03 km) From Marieddu historical center of Catania a few steps from the cathedral
- (0.03 km) Apartment
- (0.03 km) From marieddu holiday house
- (0.05 km) Biscari Rooms
- (0.06 km) the arches
- Restaurants near Palazzo Biscari:
- (0.02 km) Canni & Pisci-Meat & Fish
- (0.02 km) Ristorguiffrida
- (0.02 km) Ristorante Biscari
- (0.05 km) Cicchetteria Glera
- (0.14 km) Filo d’esca