Malacological Museum in Menfi – Palazzo Pignatelli

Among the main attractions that the city offers menfi there is the Malacological Museum, a permanent exhibition on shells from all over the world. It is a unicum in the Agrigento area, in which it manages to stand out for its particularity. The Malacological Museum of Menfi always manages to amaze all your visitors, managing to make everyone go back to being children, when even a simple shell was enough to be amazed and enthusiastic. The experience offered by the Malacological Museum is truly very suggestive, capable of transmitting unique emotions and bringing back many memories to those who visit its premises, through a perfect exhibition in which they are cataloged over 5000 specimens.

History of the Malacological Museum in Menfi

The Malacological Museum was born thanks to donation by Vanna Rotolo, a great lover of malacology, who after having collected shells throughout her life decides to make her passion public, offering all visitors to Menfi the opportunity to immerse themselves in a fantastic and exciting world, capable of making your holiday in Menfi even richer and more pleasant.

Palazzo Pignatelli in Menfi

The Malacological Museum is located inside the premises of the Palazzo Pignatellithe historic Memphis town hall. Palazzo Pignatelli is among the oldest monuments in the city of Menfi, as built in 1638, in the same period in which the first modern inhabited center of this territory was founded. On the side of Palazzo Pignatelli there are also the remains of aancient tower belonged to the majestic Menfi Castle, a spectacular architectural work of which, however, nothing else remains, representing an important point of reference for tourists who visit the city. Palazzo Pignatelli, throughout its history, has performed various functions, also hosting the magistrates Court local and one school, always showing itself as one of the most important buildings in Memphis. Currently, the Palazzo Pignatelli is a renowned center of culture and science, thanks also to the presence of the Malacological Museum which manages to give a scientific imprint of great importance.

What to see at the Malacological Museum in Menfi

The Malacological Museum is divided into three large rooms in Palazzo Pignatelli, where over 5000 specimens are exhibited, all rigorously taxonomically classified. There are also numerous explanatory panels, thanks to which it is possible to learn much more about the biodiversity of the Sicilian territory, as most of the finds present here were found along the Agrigento coast.

• Natural Science Path: the Malacological Museum is ideal for going through a scientific path to discover the great variety of species present on the Sicilian coasts and beyond, as evidenced by the thousands of specimens from every continent.
• Shells of Porto Palo di Menfi: the hamlet of Porto Palo di Menfi is a large natural deposit of shells, present in every shape, color and size, from which unique specimens have been obtained which can now be admired in the Malacological Museum.
• Aquatic animals: in addition to the shells, various animals from the Sicilian seas are also exhibited in the Malacological Museum, enriched by explanations on their habitat and their habits.

How to get to the Malacological Museum in Menfi

It is really easy to reach the Malacological Museum of Menfi, as it is located in the heart of its historic center. You can get to Memphis by car, thanks to the State Road 115 and the many Provincial Roads that cross this territory, on which the buses of the Sicilian bus lines also pass. At about 20 km there is the Castelvetrano railway station, therefore being able to arrive also with the train in its immediate vicinity, while those traveling by plane can make a stop at the Falcone and Borsellino airport of Palermo, which is located about 100 km away.