The Gallery is located in the historic center of the city, in the ancient 15th-century building, in Catalan Gothic style, which was once the residence of Francesco Abatellis, master portulan of the Kingdom. The structure suffered severe damage over the centuries and was restored several times, culminating in the design by Carlo Scarpa in 1953.

The works on display document the figurative culture of Western Sicily from the 12th to the 17th century and are the result of donations and acquisitions, including the most significant one coming from the National Museum of Palermo (now the Regional Archaeological Museum) whose interdisciplinary nature was the work of Antonino Salinas. The vast heritage includes masterpieces by Antonello da Messina, Gagini, Laurana, and Novelli.