Sicily coral art exhibition to open at Villa Zito

The exhibition “L’arte del corallo in Sicilia. Quarant’anni di studi, collezionismo e valorizzazione” is set to inaugurate at Villa Zito in Palermo on November 7. Organized by the Fondazione Sicilia, the event marks forty years since a landmark 1986 exhibition that brought international attention to the coral craftsmanship of Trapani.

The showcase traces the history of coral from the 16th to the 18th centuries, illustrating its journey from Sicilian workshops to its widespread use across the Mediterranean and Europe. The exhibition aims to reconstruct the social and cultural contexts in which these decorative arts were created, used, and collected.

Works on display are sourced from various prestigious Italian private collections, including the Giordano Art Collection, Altomani & Sons, and Banco BPM. Additionally, pieces will be contributed by institutions such as Palazzo Madama in Turin, Gallerie Estensi in Modena, the Museo Agostino Pepoli in Trapani, and the Galleria Regionale della Sicilia at Palazzo Abatellis in Palermo.