PALAZZO BONGIORNO

Palazzo Bongiorno is one of the best examples of the 18th century architecture in Madonie. Its construction started in the first half of the 18th century, probably based on a project of Gandolfo Felice Bongiorno, and served as home of Bongiorno family, Cacchiamo barons and Eschifaldo marquis. The palace, whose halls were entirely painted by Gaspare Fumagalli and his stepfather, Pietro Martorana, was the seat for the Accademia degli industriosi, considered to be Madonie most important literary and cultural circle, which used as emblem an "oriolo" (clock) with the inscription "ex pondere motus".

Many prominent personalities of the time joined the academy, like the abbot Vito Amico, author of the Lexicon Topographicum Siculum, the Villabianca marquis Emanuele Gaetani, the abbot Giuseppe Fedele Vitale, author of the epic poem "La Sicilia Liberata". When baron Francesco Bendetto Bongiorno died in 1767, the rest of his family lived in the palace for several years. When the family line extincted during the first half of the 19th century, the palace passed to Palermo archbishop. On 1865 the ancient palace was bought by the barons Li Destri from Gangi and in 1967 passed to Gangi municipality which made it its representative office and seat for the City Council. Bongiorno palace halls evoke an atmosphere of rare beauty. Precious casket that opening reveals the magnificence of these wonderful frescoes that have the power to give exciting moments and convey a feeling of absolute serenity. Visiting this palace it is like a journey in the 17th century Gangi, inhabitated by nobles, priests, architects, writers, artists.

An unforgettable experience in one of the most beautiful buildings in Sicily, to discover an allegorical language, somewhat mysterious and evocative, opened to different readings and interpretations.

PALAZZO SGADARI

The artistical carved stone portal leads inside the building, the Palace of Culture. Inside its halls there are the Archeological museum, the Contemporary art gallery, and the Weapons museum. In the old garage is located the Ethno-anthropological museum of Peasant and Popular Traditions.

Gangi is in the forefront as a city of art and museums, offering alongside numerous important buildings a plurality of exhibition types, result of a long historical tradition and a well-established conservation and enhancement culture. The Museum Network is also included in Musea network, the network of all Madonie and Imera museums on which the territory entrusts the dissemination of Community cultural expressions.

ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

The archeological museum is located on the ground floor of Sgadari palace. It preserves finds ranging from the early Christian age, some of which are dated back between VII and VI century b.C. It is divided in two sectors; an educational one whose function is to make known the exhibits modality of production, function and value, and a topography one that collects artifacts from Mount Alburchia, Contrada Comune and Gangivecchio. Mount Alburchia has always been the focus of vexata questio that sees Engyon, the mythical city founded by the Cretans and mentioned in historical sources, rise on its slopes.

GIANBECCHINA PICTURE GALLERY

The palace hosts 96 art works made by the painter Gianbecchina, preserved in the gallery dedicated to him. Il Palazzoconserva ben 96 opere del pittore Gianbecchina, custodite nella pinacoteca a lui dedicata. The master privileged subjects are the peasants, workers, women working in the fields. His objective is to represent reality, through a kind of realism that is well expressed in the faces of the depicted characters. In fact they reflect the signs of poverty, of suffering, of oppression and exploitation.

ETHNO-ANTHROPOLOGICAL MUSEUM

The Ethno-anthropological museum of Peasant and Popular Traditions in the old garage of Sgadari palace. It is a unique example, in the area, of an interesting collection of rural and domestic testimonies. Inside the museum are proudly displayed the "stravola", an ancient means of transport made entirely of wood and without wheels, which was drawn by a pair of oxen, and a "zita" outfit, an exposure of precious female handmade creations.

WEAPONS MUSEUM

The Weapons museum, instituted thank to the donation of professor Giuseppe Franco collection, is unique in all Madonie territory. The exhibition consists of a large number of firearms, among which valuable rarities and old pieces: muzzle-loading rifles with one or double-barreled flintlock with decorations, Damascus English rifle, shotgun Chassepeau of 1860, muzzle-loading spingarda Montecristo type  and dueling type. Among the more modern pieces include American Winchester rifles, breech-loaders Damas rifle, Smith & Wesson revolvers , Colt revolvers, Browning pistols