Lagumina Collection

Set up in December 2014 in the Ex Carceri dello Steri, "Sicily as told by cartographers" was created thanks to Antonio Lagumina, who with long and passionate research has created a significant cartography collection composed of maps of Sicily from the 16th to the 19th century. The collection includes 119 maps, now part of the University's heritage. Famous maps include Gastaldi's "Sicilia" (1545), Mercator's "Siciliae Regnum" (1589), DeLisle's "Carte de l'Isle et Royaume de Sicile" (1717) and Schmettau's "Nova et esauriente Siciliae" (1721), together with thematic, nautical and religious maps. Each map offers numerous points of interest: in toponymy, in the configuration of the coasts and roads; others have an educational purpose, such as the map by Benedetto Bordone (1528) with Sicily "according to Ptolemy" and "according to the moderns"; others have historical value, such as the one belonging to Nino Bixio. The island with the name "Siciliae Regnum", introduced by Mercator in 1589, evokes the Norman kingdom, a symbol of hospitality, tolerance and cultural splendor.

The collection is currently not on display because it is undergoing study and conservative restoration.