The house where Bellini was born began to be the object of cultural and tourist interest as early as 1871, the year in which the high relief medallion by the sculptor Carmelo De Stefani was placed, as a signpost for foreigners, next to the main entrance of Palazzo Gravina Cruyllas, on the ancient Via della Corsa (today Via Vittorio Emanuele II).
The celebrations for the return of Bellini’s mortal remains to Catania (1876) and, even more so, those for the centenary of his birth (1901), significantly increased public interest in the historical evidence of the composer’s life, including the place where he was born. It was during these Bellini celebrations, at the beginning of the century, that the Real Circolo Bellini – a city cultural association founded and directed by Giuseppe Giuliano – launched a press campaign to have this place declared a national monument.
Giuliano’s initial impulse was joined by those of the engraver Francesco Di Bartolo and the Honourable Giuseppe De Felice, as well as the initiatives of Catania’s Circolo Artistico.
Although after several years of waiting, the coveted recognition was obtained with a ministerial decree dated 29 November 1923. Nevertheless, the aspirations of the people of Catania to turn the place into a museum dedicated to Bellini could not yet be realized because the city administration did not have the necessary funds to purchase the property from its rightful owner.
Therefore, it was necessary to resort to public subscription to finally redeem it.
The house was bought by the city of Catania on 16 March 1926 and became the Museo Civico four years later.