Rick Steves Recommends This Ancient Italian Palace To See Rare, Museum-Worthy Relics

Europe undoubtedly has some of the best museums in the world. The Louvre in Paris is one of the world's most prestigious museums, you can see extraordinary religious art in the Vatican Museums, and Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum display some of the remarkable works from Dutch artists. Italy's best museums include the Uffizi and Accademia galleries in Florence, and Rome's Capitoline Museum is the oldest public museum on earth, with a history dating back to the 15th century and artifacts to match. However, even Europe's most impressive museums can feel static and distant, unable to convey a true feeling of what life was like centuries ago. 

Fortunately, not all museums are display-centric; immersive, experiential attractions allow us to explore history by walking where others did centuries ago. European travel expert Rick Steves knows how to make the most of museum visits, and Steves' website highlights what he calls "Europe's time-warp houses." These are historic properties that have been restored to how they existed in the past, to create a sense of authenticity and a fully interactive experience. One of Steves' favorites is the Palazzo Conte Federico in Palermo, the vibrant capital city of Sicily, which was founded in the 12th century. 

Palazzo Conte Federico is on the edge of Palermo's historic center, just a few kilometers from the city's ferry terminals, and getting to Palermo and the Palazzo Conte Federico is a fairly simple matter. Palermo International Airport is located just outside the city and has daily flights from across Europe, while Palermo's train station is in the city center and serves 19 million passengers each year.

The Palazzo Conte Federico's Arab-Norman Scrigno tower dates back nearly 900 years, when it formed part of a gateway to the city. The building is a remarkable journey through Sicily's unique history, combining elements of the island's various cultural presences over the last 2,750-plus years. Its current owner, Count Federico, claims direct descent from Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, and his family has owned the palazzo for over four centuries. 

The stone-walled palace is filled with a remarkable collection of antique art, artifacts, and interior decor. You might even get a peek at Count Alessandro's vintage race car, but the unique attraction of a visit to the Palazzo Conte Federico is a guided tour led by a member of the family. Rick Steves describes a visit to the Palazzo Conte Federico as "a rare opportunity to see museum-worthy ancestral relics in one of Palermo's oldest buildings — and meet a Sicilian aristocrat at the same time."

Steves explains that Countess Alwine or one of her sons will show off the family's collections of art and family heirlooms, demonstrating how the family mixes preserving history with living in the modern world. Your experience doesn't even have to end when the tour does; the Count's sons Nicolò and Andrea have set up nine apartments on the upper floors of the palazzo. Book an overnight stay for after your tour so you can sleep like a Sicilian noble, at least for a night.