Overview
The Museum is named after its founder, Count Agostino Pepoli, who founded it between 1906 and 1908. Located in the former convent of the Carmelite fathers, next to the sanctuary of the Annunziata, hidden in a beautiful cloister, which was also built in the 14th century and renovated in later centuries. It contains coral, gold, silver and majolica artefacts from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as some pieces of rare interest. On the ground floor, you can view Sicilian religious marble sculptures (not to be missed is Antonello Gagini's San Giacomo Maggiore, a masterpiece of classical-Renaissance taste), an old guillotine from the Bourbon period, the large "Lombardo" flag, one of the two steam ships that carried Garibaldi's Thousand from Quarto to Marsala. An imposing staircase, with polychrome marble, leads to the first floor, which houses the Art Gallery. Here, it is essential to linger in front of the magnificent 15th century polyptych depicting the Madonna enthroned with the Child crowning St. Catherine. Of note is the decorative arts section with the splendid collection of coral pieces, locally manufactured products, including the golden copper hanging lamp by Fra Matteo Bavera, coral and enamels dated 1633, the Crucifix carved from a single piece of coral, and the collection of nativity figurines made of terracotta, ivory, alabaster and coral.There is also the archaeological section that brings together objects from prehistoric to Roman times.
