- Details
Many monuments, archaeological sites, and museums in Sicily require the purchase of an entrance ticket to be visited. Fortunately, some categories of visitors or on certain days of the year can benefit from free admission, significantly reducing the budget required for a vacation or a day dedicated to cultural heritage. Below are some general information about free entry days. We specify that this article is for informational purposes only, and for detailed and updated information, it is necessary to contact directly the monument or museum you intend to visit.
Before looking at the days when a free admission ticket is issued, it is also important to specify that in Sicily, cultural heritage sites can be managed by different entities: the Sicilian Region, through the Department of Cultural Heritage, directly manages most of the archaeological areas, regional museums, and many monuments. In some cases, the ticketing service is subcontracted to private entities, but the managing entity remains the Region. Some cultural sites are managed by Municipalities, as well as some civic museums. For visits to catacombs or religious sites, reference should be made to the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology, the archbishopric, or cooperatives entrusted with the service. Some sites are entrusted to private organizations or associations such as FAI or the Archeoclub. In Sicily, there are no cultural heritage sites managed by the Italian State or the Ministry of Culture, as Sicily is an autonomous region, and these sites are managed by the Region.
Museum Sundays in Sicily
Free entrance to the museums on the first Sunday of the month have been a regular event in Italy since 2014 for art and culture enthusiasts. At national level, free admission is granted to all sites managed by the Culture Ministry. Similarly, every first Sunday of the month in Sicily, free entry is granted to all archaeological sites, museums, and art galleries managed by the Sicilian Region. Although admission is free, visitors must still pass through the ticket office before entering to collect the €0 ticket. The initiative is limited to regional sites only. Among these, in southeastern Sicily, we mention:
Sunday at the Museum in the Province of Syracuse
- Archaeological area of the Neapolis - Syracuse
- "Paolo Orsi" Archaeological Museum - Syracuse
- Maniace Castle - Syracuse
- Bellomo Gallery - Syracuse
- Hypogeum of Piazza Duomo - Syracuse
- Euryalus Castle - Syracuse
- Villa del Tellaro - Noto
- Akrai and Palazzo Judica Museum - Palazzolo Acreide
- Archaeological area of Megara Hyblaea - Augusta
Sunday at the Museum in the Province of Ragusa
- Archaeological area of Cava d'Ispica - Modica
- Parco Forza - Ispica
- Hyblean Archaeological Museum - Ragusa
- Convent of the Cross in Scicli - Scicli
- Kamarina - Santa Croce Camerina
Sites managed by ecclesiastical entities (e.g., the Catacombs of San Giovanni), Municipalities (e.g., Civic Archaeological Museums), private entities (e.g., the Montalbano Commissioner’s Office), and associations, unfortunately, do not generally adhere to this initiative. However, we recommend contacting them as they may have different initiatives or offer free entry on other dates.
Other Free Admission Days to Regional Sites
In addition to the 12 annual "Sundays at the Museum" dates, some other fixed free admission days have been established in Sicily for the regional sites mentioned above. These include:
- March 8: International Women's Day (free admission only for female visitors)
- March 10: Sicilian Cultural Heritage Day (in memory of archaeologist and regional assessor Sebastiano Tusa)
Categories of Visitors Always Eligible for Free Entry to Regional Sites
In regional sites, certain visitor categories are always entitled to free entry upon presenting appropriate documentation at the ticket office. These include:
- School groups on trips, presenting a participant list issued by the school administration
- Tenured teachers with appropriate documentation
- Minors upon registration of a parent's document
- Disabled individuals and one accompanying person
- Tour guides
- EU University students of Cultural Heritage, Architecture, and related degrees
- Journalists in the exercise of their profession
- Carabinieri of the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit
- Details
Mount Etna is one of Sicily's symbols and a major tourist attraction on the island. With its nearly continuous volcanic activity, it attracts thousands of visitors each year eager to witness a unique natural spectacle up close. Despite its active nature, Etna’s eruptions are mainly effusive, with explosions and Strombolian activity localized around the summit craters, as well as lava flows slowly advancing down the volcano’s slopes.
Throughout history, some eruptions have had devastating consequences: the 1669 lava flow reached Catania, surrounding Castello Ursino, while others have threatened towns and tourist areas such as Rifugio Sapienza or Piano Provenzano. Fortunately, in recent years, lava has mainly flowed into the Valle del Bove, an uninhabited area of great scenic value.
Watching an eruption of Mount Etna is an extraordinary experience, with spectacular explosions, smoke columns, and glowing lava tongues lighting up the night landscape. However, it is essential to follow safety measures and adhere to the guidelines provided by Civil Protection and local authorities, keeping in mind that on an active volcano, zero risk does not exist.
- Details
Information on Opening Hours and Ticket Prices Updated to: November 2024
Syracuse offers three different catacomb open to visitors, the Catacombs of San Giovanni, Vigna Cassia, and the Catacombs of Santa Lucia. The Church of San Giovanni, its attached catacombs, and the crypt of San Marciano are open year-round except for a short winter closure. For Santa Lucia and Vigna Cassia, it is recommended to verify availability for specific dates. On this page, we publish the latest update on opening hours as provided by the Inspectorate of the Catacombs.
Please note: the publication on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not official. Changes are possible without prior notice, and for updated information, please refer directly to the Catacombs Inspectorate or the Kairos coop. (Ph. +39 (0) 931 64694), which manages access to the sites mentioned above.
- Details
Starting from November 1, 2024, the Fondazione INDA will take over the management of ticketing for some of the most important archaeological sites in Syracuse: the Neapolis archaeoloigical park, the Paolo Orsi archaeological museum, Palazzo Bellomo gallery, and Maniace castle, temporarily replacing (currently until December 31, 2024) the previous manager, Aditus Culture, whose concession has expired pending a new concession tender.
