GAM, Palermo’s Gallery of Modern Art, offers a different view of the city from its celebrated mosaics and Baroque churches. In the historic centre, the museum occupies a complex that includes the former convent of Sant’Anna la Misericordia. Its cloister and historic rooms make an appealing setting for the paintings and sculptures inside.
The collection traces Sicilian art through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, showing how artists responded to social change and emerging modern movements. Look for landscapes by Francesco Lojacono and works associated with the Futurist artist Pippo Rizzo. Together, they reveal a Palermo engaged with modern artistic debates as well as its own traditions.
Allow around an hour or two for a visit, and check current opening times before setting out, as schedules and room access can change. The gallery is easy to reach on foot from Quattro Canti; walking is generally simpler than driving in the historic centre, where traffic restrictions and parking can be awkward. Leave time afterwards for a coffee and pastry in the surrounding streets.