A Catania sta per nascere l’ambizioso Museo dell’Etna in un ex ospedale ottocentesco
A new Museo dell'Etna (Etna Museum) is being built in Catania, Sicily, inside the former 19th-century Vittorio Emanuele II hospital. The project, winner of a 2021 public competition led by the Florentine firm Guicciardini & Magni, spans 8,000 square meters across the central Padiglione San Marco. With a budget of 25 million euros from the Sicilian Region, the museum will feature six sectors with interactive installations, a panoramic terrace overlooking Mount Etna, and spaces for a university campus and Accademia di Belle Arti labs. Construction is 80% complete, with delivery expected by the end of 2026.
This initiative matters because it transforms a disused historic hospital into a major cultural hub dedicated to Europe's tallest active volcano, Etna, which is a crucial tourist and scientific resource for Sicily. By combining museum exhibits, educational facilities, and public space, the project aims to boost local cultural tourism, prevent urban decay, and create a lasting civic landmark that deepens public understanding of volcanology and the region's natural heritage.