On the first Sunday of every month, Sicily quietly opens its doors. Archaeological parks, museums and cultural landmarks across the island, those under the care of the Sicilian Region’s Department of Cultural Heritage, welcome visitors free of charge, turning art, history and beauty into a shared experience rather than a privilege.
The initiative, promoted by the regional councillor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, Alberto Samonà, aligns Sicily with the Italian Ministry of Culture’s nationwide programme. “We must bring people closer to places of art and beauty,” Samonà explains, “because culture is medicine for the soul—it teaches us how to live according to universal values.”
Read also: 6 Most Touristy Places in Sicily and Where To Go Instead
Quick Sicily Travel Guide
Sicily Accommodation: San Domenico Palace and Grand Hotel Timeo for luxury accommodation in Taormina, and Casa Nostra Boutique Hotel or Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel for intimate vibes in Palermo. Dome or B&B Oriental Palace in Catania. Room Of Andrea Hotel or Gaura Apartments in Trapani. Le Tre Campane Ortigia or Palazzo Alfeo Aparthotel in Syracuse. Principe Di Salina Boutique Hotel or Il Gabbiano Relais in Stromboli on the Aeolian Islands.
Top Sicily Activities:
- Palermo street food walking tour
- Etna, wine and Alcantara tour from Taormina
- Boat tour to Favignana and Levanzo from Trapani
- Private tour of 3 Etna wineries with food and wine tasting
- Travel photoshoot in Palermo
- Quad excursion from Ribera
Sicily, with the wealth of art of its museums, and the unique evidence, between history and nature, of its archaeological parks, is the guardian of this beauty. Furthermore, allowing free entrance every first Sunday of the month also favors the possibility for families to spend their free time in our places of culture and this is a further positive effect”.
When can you enter for free?
In order to enter for free, go to the ticket office on the first Sunday of the month, follow their timetables and ask for a free ticket.
In 2026, the next first Sundays of the month are:
- February 1st
- March 1st
- April 5th
- May 3rd
- June 7th
- July 5th
- August 2nd
- September 6th
- October 4th
- November 1st
- December 6th
Where can you enter for free?
We will recommend you here the best places of Sicily that you can visit for free. For the complete list of all the places please open this link.
Palermo
From 9 to 13.30
- Castello della Cuba
- Castello della Zisa
- Chiostro di San Giovanni degli Eremiti
- Galleria Regionale della Sicilia “Palazzo Abatellis”
- GAM – Galleria d’Arte Moderna
- Regional Archeological Museum Antonio Salinas
- RISO – Museo d’Arte Contemporanea della Sicilia
- Palazzina Cinese
- Palazzo Ajutamicristo
- Palazzo Mirto
- Villino Florio
Enna
- The Archaeological Museum of Aidone
From 9 to 17
Mazara del Vallo
- Museum of the Dancing Satyr
From 9 to 19.15
Messina
- Regional Museum of Messina
From 9.30 to 13.30, the collection dedicated to Caravaggio and his time has recently been enriched with six new paintings from the museum’s deposits.
Taormina
- Giardini Naxos Archaeological Park
New educational workshops for children. - Ancient theatre of Taormina
From 9 to 18.30
Terrasini
- Museo d’Aumale
Trapani
- Agostino Pepoli Regional Museum
From 9 to 13, the unpublished exhibition on the life of Nunzio Nasi, a politician and collector from Trapani.
Archaeological Parks
- Valley of the Temples
From 8.30 to 19, guided tours and an archeo trekking route from the Hellenistic quarter to the temple of Concordia. The Valley of the Temples and the adjoining Griffo archaeological museum have always benefited from free Sundays.
- Segesta Archaeological Park
From 9 to 18.30
- Selinunte Archaeological Park
You can visit the new wing of the park from 9 to 17.
- Archaeological site of Morgantina
All the photos in this article were taken by Chiara Magi. Book your travel photoshoot in Palermo here or write us at [email protected].
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