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Palazzo Pretorio, Palermo

Palazzo Pretorio, Palermo: Our most recommended tours and activities

Palermo: NO Mafia Walking Tour

1. Palermo: NO Mafia Walking Tour

Discover the top sights in Palermo from a unique angle on a guided walking tour. Every stop is a chance to pause for reflection on the realities of the Mafia and consider the civic movement against Mafioso power. Meet your guide and begin your mafia-themed adventure through the streets of Palermo. Explore Teatro Massimo, the open-air market Il Capo, and Piazza Della Memoria (a memorial dedicated to prosecutors and judges killed by the mafia). Along the Cassaro, come across places with orange stickers on their windows, representing owners that have said no to paying the extortion racket and have subscribed to the ethical consumer campaign pago chi non paga (I pay who does not pay).  After strolling by sights like Piazza Beati Paoli, Palermo Cathedral, and the city hall, finish the tour in the heart of Palermo's old town center. Get tips from your guide on how to continue your visit and where to taste the best Sicilian specialties.

Palermo: UNESCO World Heritage Sites Guided Walking Tour

2. Palermo: UNESCO World Heritage Sites Guided Walking Tour

By choosing this small group tour, you will have the opportunity to admire the best attractions, with a tasty local break! This three hours small group tour will take you to the must-see spots of the city centre, crossing the Baroque and Normann-Arab style architecture, including attractions such as the Piazza Pretoria (Praetorian Square), called by the locals Square of Shame. The huge marble fountain you can admire in this square is amazing, and it is also the reason of the square's name, due to the nudity of its statues. The Praetorian Palace is located in this plaza, too, and it hosts the Town Hall, which is usually open to the public so that you may spot the mayor of Palermo. This impressive building was built in the 14th century, and it was renovated in the 19th century. Your cultural and historical experience will be enriched by admiring the Royal Palace, which now hosts the Regional Parliament of Sicily. After the Normans conquered Sicily in 1072, the palace was the main residence of the kings. In 1132, King Roger II added the magnificent Palatine Chapel, which is decorated with unique golden mosaics. When visiting Palermo, we cannot ignore its religious significance, so that they will be part of our small group itinerary, such as the Martorana Church, famous around the world for its beauty and majestic appearance. In fact, an Arabic traveller who visited the Martorana in 1184 called this Christian church "the most beautiful monument in the world", which perfectly resumes all we could have said about this site. One more unmissable stop will be the Cathedral of Palermo, a brilliant and unique example of stratification of styles, from Muslim to Normans to the Christian reconversion. If you are wondering if this culture discovering and walking will make you hungry, don’t worry…we will have another substantial stop included for our small group: a tasty Sicilian cannolo or granita, in a typical local shop.

Palermo: Markets and Monuments City Center Walking Tour

3. 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: Private Guided Walking Tour

4. Palermo: Private Guided Walking Tour

A guided walking tour is the best way to get to know the wonderful city of Palermo, with its breathtaking monuments and its hidden corners, its winding alleys and the arab urban structure make it particularly suitable for walking. This private tour takes place in the historic center of the city, along Via Vittorio Emanuele, the oldest street in Palermo, admiring the most iconic points of interest such as Palazzo dei Normanni, the Cathedral, Bologni Square, Pretoria Square, Bellini Square, Square Sant'Anna , San Francesco d'Assisi Square and much more.

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Other Sightseeing Options in Palazzo Pretorio, Palermo

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What people are saying about Palazzo Pretorio, Palermo

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 217 reviews

Attilio gave us a real education on the history of the judges, prosecutors and business people standing up the Mafia. He exposed how the mafia uses fear to extort the pizzo, a small share of an enterprise ‘s profit. He answered all our questions and shared some of his own experiences growing up in Palermo. You’ll hear about some amazingly brave and heroic individuals like Falcone, Borsellino, and the brave priest who will soon be sainted. It was nice how he tied in the Mafia with each location, such as the church, the government and everyday life.

The guide was engaging and informative. I was initially skeptical of taking a 'mafia' tour because I didn't know if it was going to in some way glorify it as the media often does but it was a candid and interesting explanation of the past and present of the influence of the mafia in Sicily and elsewhere. Recommended.

Nous avons fait le tour en Français avec Chloé. Très instructif et intéressant, elle connaissait très bien son sujet et répondait à toutes nos questions. Chloé est très sympathique, nous la recommandons vivement si vous voulez faire le tour en Français. Bravo Chloé et merci!

The time flew by! Very insightful and engaging tour. I learned so much!

Fascinating insight into an important part of Sicilian life.