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Hauser & Wirth Buys Palermo’s Palazzo Forcella De Seta for First Italy Gallery

The purchase remains subject to a 60-day public pre-emption review by cultural authorities.

Overview

  • The gallery closed on the acquisition in November after first assessing the site in 2023.
  • Authorities retain a statutory 60-day right of public pre-emption because the palace is a protected monument.
  • Hauser & Wirth acquired roughly 20,000 square feet, including the piano nobile for exhibitions, two wings, and a separate office building.
  • If pre-emption is not exercised, work is slated to start in 2026 with completion targeted around 2030.
  • The neo-Gothic, mid-19th-century building hosted Manifesta 12 and once housed Galleria Mediterranea, aligning with the gallery’s conservation-led, mixed-use model.