The Museum complex “Polo Museale” is a Diffused Museum of the Territory, which guarantees the protection, enhancement and use of the artistic, demo-ethnographic, archaeological heritage and of the Municipal Historical Archive.
It is located in the former Santo Spirito Hospital, a structure built in the 16th century at the behest of Paolo and Giovanna Ventimiglia, people from Ciminna, with the aim of welcoming the poor sick, pilgrims and foreigners. Inside, the chapel of the same name was founded, where the feast of Pentecost was solemnly celebrated every year. In the 16th century, the Hospital also established the foundling service, active until the mid-19th century, which allowed these children to have a future, thanks to donations from the wealthy families of Ciminna. The façade of the building and the chapel were created by G. Guarnieri following the works carried out in the 18th century. Over the centuries, many charitable people thought of leaving their assets as an inheritance to allow the Santo Spirito Hospital to carry out its services to the poorest classes. In fact, in 1905 a minor surgery clinic was opened that could only be used by the poor and the neediest. The hospital premises were completely abandoned in the second half of the twentieth century and purchased by the Municipality to be renovated, with funds from the European Community, and transformed into a Museum complex.
