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Palermo Architecture

Our most recommended Palermo Architecture

From Palermo: Monreale and Cefalù Half-Day Trip

1. From Palermo: Monreale and Cefalù Half-Day Trip

Escape the hustle and bustle of Palermo city center on a half-day tour to Monreale and Cefalù. Marvel at a Norman cathedral on the slopes of Monte Caputo, and learn the Greek and Medieval history of one of Sicily’s most beautiful towns. Following a pick-up from your hotel or the port of Palermo, transfer to Monreale where you will have approximately 1-hour to tour the Duomo. An official audio guide is included to learn the history of the 12th-century building, considered one of the greatest landmarks of medieval ecclesiastical architecture in the south of Italy. Then, drive along the north coast of Sicily, on route to the beautiful town of Cefalù. Sit back and relax on the 1.5-hour journey, and on arrival go to the 12th-century Duomo. See traces of the Middle Ages at the Osterio Magno. Get panoramic views from the Porta Terra. Discover Greek and Arabic pottery in the Mandralisca Museum, and walk down some curving stone steps to a picturesque cluster of 16th-century wash basins at the Lavatoio.

Palermo: Street Food and History Walking Tour

2. Palermo: Street Food and History Walking Tour

Embark on a walking tour through the center of Palermo and feel like you are visiting an open-air museum. Marvel at a range of different architectural styles and see the Capo street markets that are a true mix of culture, customs, and food traditions. Taste five local food specialties and a drink to wash them down tastefully. Blend a historical and foodie walking tour into one. See and learn about historical landmarks, including Opera dei Pupi (traditional puppet theater), Piazza Beati Paoli, the Cathedral, the Quattro Canti, and the Pretoria fountain en route. Walk through the bustling Capo Street Market, offering a wide selection of local meats, seafood, produce & Sicilian bites. Then, taste some local specialties from Palermo. Tuck into some sfincione (dough topped with onion, bread crumbs, tomato, and oregano), panelle (fried chickpea flour), crocché (potato croquettes), arancine (rice croquettes stuffed with meat or butter), and cannolo (crunchy shell with sweet-cheese). Refresh yourself with a drink, to close off your tour in style.

Palermo: Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples Day Tour

3. Palermo: Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples Day Tour

Enjoy a scenic drive into the countryside to Agrigento on this full-day excursion from Palmero, with stops to see ancient temples. Visit local museums and learn about the country's rich history before being transferred back to Palermo. The excursion includes a short stop for a coffee en route to Agrigento, before arriving at the Valley of the Temples. You can further explore the Hera, Concordia and Apollo temples and Hardcastle villa, with a guidebook that will provide more information about the sites. You’ll have free time to decide on a place for lunch, before your driver takes you to the Agrigento Archaeology Museum. After exploring the museum’s collections, you'll be driven back to Palermo.

Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

4. Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

Europe’s highest active volcano is studied extensively by scientists and is popular with trekkers and nature lovers as well. Visit Mount Etna and the clifftop village of Taormina on this 11-hour excursion from Palermo. From Crateri Silvestri you’ll take the funicular with a local mountain guide all the way up to 2,500 meters above sea level. From this point you’ll experience unforgettable panoramic views. Just south of Taormina is the nature reserve of Isola Bella, and further south you’ll see the popular seaside resort of Giardini Naxos. Visit the village of Taormina, a 45-minute drive from Mount Etna. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, the village features an ancient Greek theater, many old churches, antique shops, lively bars and fine restaurants.

From Palermo: Villa Romana and Valley of the Temples Trip

5. From Palermo: Villa Romana and Valley of the Temples Trip

Follow in the footsteps of the Greeks and Romans on a day trip where your transport is taken care of for you. Discover some of the finest Roman mosaics in the world at the Villa Romana del Casale. Learn all about the Valley of the Temples archaeological site with a licensed local guide. Meet your driver in central Palermo and be taken straight to Piazza Armerina, where you will explore the Villa Romana del Casale independently. Marvel at the luxurious 4th-century villa, home to an influential Roman family. Take your time to examine its exquisite mosaic flooring. Continue to Agrigento for a guided tour of the magnificent Valley of Temples, built by the Greeks in the 5th century BC. See the ruins of temples, necropolises, houses, streets, and everything else you'd expect to find in an ancient city. Finally, return to the meeting point in Palermo.

Palermo: Markets and Monuments City Center Walking Tour

6. Palermo: Markets and Monuments City Center Walking Tour

Get a feel for the rich history, culture, and architecture of central Palermo on a 3-hour guided walking tour. Your guide will take you to Norman Sicily churches and beautiful palaces, through bustling city squares and famous old street markets. Head first to the Teatro Massimo and learn about Italy’s largest opera house, known for its perfect acoustics. Then visit the beautiful Palermo Cathedral, dating from the 12th century and part of Unesco ’s list of World Heritage sites. See the Church of the Gesù, one of the most important Baroque churches in Palermo, as well as the Praetorian Palace, an outstanding palace of the 15th century.   Continue to Pretoria Square, referred to by locals as the “square of shame” for the nudity of its fountain statues. You’ll also visit the nearby Bellini Square where you’ll see the Church of San Cataldo and Martorana Church, two more Norman Sicily–era churches and Unesco World Heritage sites.   Along the way, your guide will lead you through the famous Capo street markets. Observe the lively scenes and multitude of smells, textiles, and colorful foods as you weave among the stalls. You can also buy and taste some of the city’s popular street food, including: panelle, crocché, sfincione and arancina The tour ends in the exact center of historic Palermo, the Baroque Villena Square, also known as Quattro Canti (Four Corners). It was built in the early 1600s at the crossing of the two most prominent streets in Palermo: Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda.

Palermo: City Highlights Bike Tour with Granita Dessert

7. Palermo: City Highlights Bike Tour with Granita Dessert

Together with your tour guide, you will follow the best itinerary to discover the Unesco sites of the city of Palermo. This city has so much to offer in one enjoyable bike tour! The guide will offer you an essential historical overview of Palermo, which, with its long history, has a remarkable and unique artistic and architectural heritage. During this bike ride you will have the chance to admire the stratification of styles of Palermo architecture and culture. The Arabic, Norman, and Byzantine empires all contribute to the fascinating history of Palermo. You will be impressed by the symbol of the city, the famous cathedral of Palermo, which is one of the oldest churches in the world. You will have the opportunity to see the many architectural features of the Martorana Church, which is heavily influenced by both the Arabs and Normans. Your guide will also bring you to pass by the Palazzo dei Normanni which houses the beautiful Palatine Chapel with several Byzantine mosaics. After a long bike ride, it is time for you to rest, breathe some fresh air and taste a great Sicilian granita in a typical shop. If you think that granita is just a refreshing crushed ice flavoured with fruit to cool off in the relentless sun, you have never tried the Sicilian version! This semi-frozen dessert is made of sugar and water before the flavourings are added. A perfect way to appreciate even more the many tales told about Sicily's capital.

Palermo: Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel Tour with Tickets

8. Palermo: Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel Tour with Tickets

With more than 800 years of history, it’s perfect for culture vultures! Of all the incredible attractions in Palermo, the Palazzo dei Normanni is one that you can’t miss off your itinerary. Once the seat of the King of Sicily, it is the oldest royal residence in Europe and you can learn the history of all the dynasties who had their thrones here - as well as visiting a stunning and sublime channel. Palermo is decorated in history and there are few buildings that offer a window into the past quite as clear as the Palazzo dei Normanni. The Palazzo dei Normanni (or the Norman Palace to English speakers). Construction on the palace started in the 9th century when Sicily was under Islamic rule, though it was renovated by the Normans in 1072 when their empire spread across Europe. Now, it’s the home of the Sicilian Regional assembly. You’ll get exclusive entrance into the palace and its gardens Though not as well known as Rome’s Sistine Chapel or Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, the Cappella Palatina (or Palatine Chapel) is one of the most spectacular in all of Italy. The chapel, on the second-floor of the palace, was built in 1140 and gives an insight into the arts, science and philosophy of the dominant Western and Middle Eastern cultures at that time. See traditional Islamic designs, Byzantine mosaics, and golden decorations in one of the best examples of the Arab - Norman - Byzantine style. Not only do your tickets allow you entrance to the palace and chapel, but you can explore the gardens too with your expert guide. And as the tour is 1.5 hours long, there’s enough time for you to appreciate the stunning historic building and then spend the rest of the day wandering through Palermo’s historic centre.

Capuchin Catacombs and Monreale Cathedral Private Tour

9. Capuchin Catacombs and Monreale Cathedral Private Tour

Explore the ghoulish remains of friars and luminaries at Palermo’s Capuchin Catacombs on a 3-hour sightseeing tour. Wander along dank corridors through a vast human library of mummified bodies. Inaugurated in 1599, when Capuchin monks discovered that their catacombs contained a mysterious preservative that could mummify the dead, the goal of the site is to reflect on the fragility of life and consider the pettiness of worldly goods. Some 8,000 bodies of men and women were ultimately buried in the catacombs, including the mummy of friar Silvestro of Gubbio, the first body to be buried in the catacombs. The corpses are divided into categories, such as friars, virgins, and professors, and often recognizable by their decaying clothing. As you walk through the corridors, you will see ghastly bodies that include the mummified corpse of the painter Velazquez. Emerge from the gruesome catacombs and travel to Monreale, 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Palermo. Here you will swap corpses for gold and marble as you visit the 12th-century Arab-Norman Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the world. End your tour at the Benedictine Cloister, completed at the turn of the 13th century. Wander around the beautiful garden, surrounded by delicate arches and white marble columns.

Palermo: Vintage Fiat 500 Sightseeing Tour

10. Palermo: Vintage Fiat 500 Sightseeing Tour

Explore the sights of Palermo in style on this guided tour in a vintage Fiat 500. Learn more about the vehicle, then set out to see historic sights, local markets, beaches, and characteristic neighborhoods. Drive along the coast and make stops to explore on foot. After meeting your guide for the day, work together to plan a customized tour. Before starting, learn all the technical specifications of the car you'll be riding in. After you've gotten to know the Fiat 500, hop in and start your adventure around Palermo. Drive around the historical museum of the city. See Quattro Canti, the cathedral, and Teatro Massimo. Take a walk inside the three historical markets (Ballarò, Vucciria, and Capo). Continue the tour around the coast by the old port of La Cala to the beach of Mondello. Alternatively, you can choose to visit the Norman Cathedral of Monreale (entry tickets not included). During the tour, choose to stop to taste some of Palermo's famous street food or buy a souvenir handmade in Palermo (costs not included). Immerse yourself in all the sounds, colors, and different neighborhoods of the city, giving you an authentic adventure with locals. Enrich your day around Palermo by adding on extra experiences. Choose to add a sunset boat aperitivo experience or see the city from the sky on an old piper flight.

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Frequently asked questions about Palermo

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What are the best day trips and excursions from Palermo?

The best day trips and excursions from Palermo are:

Agrigento

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Other Sightseeing Options in Palermo

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What people are saying about Palermo

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 80 reviews

Nicola is a thorough expert in Agrigento & shares the history of Sicily as we travel... and Prof. Giovanna Lombardo a true scholar of Ancient Sicily provides a Wonderful Insight to the Archaeological Site in the Valley of The Temples... we ate at a really homey trattoria dishes that Nicola recommended. Yummy! Then Piazza Armerina ROMAN VILLA was Absolutely Fascinating where you're on your own, free to absorb at.your pace all those amazing Mosaics! Unfortunately my personal interest and fascination required a slower pace and one hour barely sufficed (for Me)!!

Great 3 hr walking tour in English, including a nice balance of food tasting, history, and Sicilian culture. Tour guide, Fabrizio, has offered this tour for more than 10 yrs and knows how to keep his audience engaged and allows time for digestion between savory, mostly fried food tastings and the final cannolo tasting. My family and I would recommend this well-priced tour to taste a handful of classic Palermo street foods and learn many interesting tidbits from a true Palermitano.

Fabrizio was an excellent guide. I was with a group of 11, and we all got along great and had many laughs, thanks to him. The food was amazing, the history was fascinating, and the whole late morning/early afternoon was simply fun. I recommend!

Fabrizio was an excellent guide! The tour was the perfect blend of history and delicious snacks. Highly recommend!!

It was an excellent trip, to lern about ansient Greek plus Roman art