The memories and recollections of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa come alive in the places and throught the objects he loved at the Gattopardo Museum
At Palazzo Filangeri Cutò, an itinerary dedicated to discovering the novel “The Leopard” and its author Visit the places, in the heart of the town of Santa Margherita di Belice, that inspired the author of one of the most important novels of Italian twentieth century literature, “The Leopard”. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa spent many summers of his childhood in this Sicilian village: his memories of Palazzo Filangeri Cutò and the splendid garden with its four fountains, greenhouse and hundreds of luxuriant plants inspired some of the rooms in the Donnafugata palace.
"Donnafugata as a village is Palma; as a palace, Santa Margherita. Sicily is what it is; in 1860, before then and always..."
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa – Letter to Baron Enrico Merlo di Tagliavia
These same rooms now house a museum dedicated entirely to the novel. Its rooms contain precious documents and memorabilia, such as the manuscript of The Leopard with the author's personal corrections, letters, notes, photos and unpublished audio material: the recording of Tomasi di Lampedusa's voice as he reads one of his stories. A unique recording, made one morning in 1956, for fun, when trying out the new tape recorder while reciting "Lighea" to amuse his son.
Quick overview
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Opening days
Open daily
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Opening times
July to September:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
From 8:00 am till 1:00 pm - From 2:30 am till 7:00 pm
Wednesday and Sunday
From 8:00 am till 1:00 pmOctober to June:
Monday, Thursday
From 9:00 am till 2:00 - From 3.30 am till 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
From 9:00 am till 2:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday and holidays
From 9:30 am till 1:00 pm - From 3:30 am till 6:30 pm -
How to reach
By car:
From Palermo take SS624 to Santa Margherita Belice
Suggested periods
- Autumn
- Event
- Spring
- Weekend
Visiting Rules
Basic rules:
All visitors are invited to observe the basic rules of respect for the preservation of monuments
Covid 19 rules:
Visitors are requested to wear a mask in enclosed or heavily crowded areas and to maintain the safety distance indicated by the regulations in force