Le antichità del principe di Biscari: scelte e criteri espositivi di un collezionista tra antiquaria e nuova scienza archeologica

The paper concerns the ancient collections of Ignazio Paternò Castello,the fifth Prince of Biscari and focuses on the evidence of the intentions, programs and choices made by this collector. The passions and prevailing interests of the prince emerge thus: he was a "true" collector who, despite being rooted in particular aspects of the antiquarianism of the 1?th century, was receptive towards the development of the nascent archaeological science as wellas the progress of natural and physical sciences. From these originated his particular idea of a museum that was not only intended as a traditional symbolic and representative space, but above all as a place of learning and scientific experimentation. In other words: a museum conceived as a cultural workshop.