Palazzo Drago Ajroldi di Santacolomba

The best part of my Palermo trip was the visit of Palazzo Drago Ajroldi di Santacolomba. I walked by the palace a few times barely noticing it. It doesn't look like any palaces that I have visited before and I didn't even realize that I could go inside. What caught my attention was an older gentleman sitting there drinking coffee every time I passed, so once I simply entered the building (by that time I understood that it's sort of a museum of course). He was there with a woman who was very excited to get a customer. At first, I didn't feel comfortable, but then I let go and went with the flow.

I paid for the ticket and wanted to go on the tour until I realized that the gentleman was following me. It was private tour! Their English wasn't the best, so I didn't understand that before. I thought that it would be awkward, but it turned out amazing and I'm planning to visit the Palazzo during my September visit of Palermo again as I promised him that I will come back with my husband.

You know what? My guide was the owner of the Palazzo! It is so expensive to maintain such building that with his family they decided to turn it into a museum. They live on the top floor, but the rest of the building can be visited and let me tell you that it's worth it. It is a special experience to go through a 'house' with its owner who tells you whatever you want to know about its history or history of his family. However, it's better when you speak Italian, Spanish or French as his English wasn't so good. He even tried a bit German with me. I really enjoyed it. Don't worry if you only speak English as there are signs everywhere, so you can learn about the Palazzo either way.