Photo: Matthias Süßen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Museum
Zisa Palace
Castle in Palermo, Sicily, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Museum
- Style
- Normanno
- Commissioned by
- William II of Sicily
- Commissioned by
- Hauteville family
- Materials
- Brick
- Protection
- Part of UNESCO World Heritage Site
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale
- Coordinates
- 38°07′00″ N, 13°20′28″ E
- Address
- Piazza Zisa, 90135
History and description
The Zisa is a grand 12th-century Norman hunting lodge and summer palace in the western area of Palermo, in the region of Sicily, Italy. The edifice was started around 1165 by Arab craftsmen under the rule of the Norman conqueror of Sicily, king William I. It was not finished until 1189, under the rule of William II. It is presently open to the public for tours.
The name Zisa derives from the Arabic term al-ʿAzīza (العزيزة), meaning 'the Dear one' or 'the Splendid one'. The same word, in Naskh script, is impressed in the entrance, according to the usual habit for the main Islamic edifices of the time. The structure was conceived as a summer residence for the Norman kings, as a part of the large hunting resort known as Genoardo (Arabic: جنة الأرض, romanized: Jannat al-Arḍ, lit. 'Earthly Paradise') that included also the Cuba Sottana, the Cuba Soprana and the Uscibene palace, and extensive gardens, of which no traces remain. Joan of England, widow of William II, was once confined to the palace by the new king Tancred of Sicily due to her backing Princess Constance aunt of William II to ascend the throne.
Architectural style
The structure includes Islamic elements such as muqarnas, and vaulted niches. In the 14th century merlons were added, by partly destroying the Arab inscription (in Kufic characters) which embellished the upper part of the building. More substantial modifications were introduced in the 17th century, when the Zisa, reduced to very poor conditions, was purchased by Giovanni di Sandoval e Platamone, Marquis of S. Giovanni la Mendola, Prince of Castelreale, Lord of the Mezzagrana and the Zisa. The latter's marble coat of arms with two lions can be seen over the entrance fornix. Several rooms of the interior were modified and others added on the ceiling, a great stair was built, as well as new external windows.
Use
As the Zisa was originally built as a semi-rural summer palace, many of its design features reflect this function. A pool at the front of the building flowed through open channels into the interior to the main hall. The architect chose to use thicker material for building and smaller windows to keep a stable internal temperature. The castle had a fully functional air conditioning system that allowed airflow throughout the whole of the building that was heavily inspired by Egyptian and Mesopotamian architectural styles and the architect also made the conscious choice to build the building facing towards the ocean.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Zisa Palace».
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Palermo LolliTrain, nearest
900 m as the crow flies
Zisa PalacePiazza Zisa, 90135
Palermo (Siremar)2.3 km
Aeroporto di Palermo Falcone e Borsellino22.1 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore museums in Sicily
Frequently asked questions
Where is Zisa Palace?
Zisa Palace is in Palermo, in the province of Palermo (Sicily), Italy. Address: Piazza Zisa, 90135. GPS coordinates: 38.11677, 13.34106.
What are the opening hours of Zisa Palace?
According to OpenStreetMap the opening hours are: Monday to Saturday: 9:00–18:30; Sunday: 9:00–13:00. Always check the official website before your visit.
Is Zisa Palace wheelchair accessible?
According to OpenStreetMap data, the site is not wheelchair accessible.
What else is there to see near Zisa Palace?
Nearby you’ll find: Museo dell'Islam (0 m away), Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa (100 m away), Museo euromediterraneo delle arti contemporanee (200 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 2 photos
- La Zisa (Palermo)-msu-1093 — Matthias Süßen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo Zisa PA 04 — Effems, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences