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Teatro Massimo

Teatro Massimo: 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: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour 24-hour Ticket

2. Palermo: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour 24-hour Ticket

Discover Palermo, the chief town of Sicily, on an open-top, hop-on hop-off bus tour! Start from the terminal outside the Politeama Theater, cruise past the Massimo Theatre, and continue towards Piazza Quattro Canti and the nearby Vucciria Market. The tour continues towards the botanical gardens, passing near Palazzo Steri. After a quick glance of the central station, you'll find yourself in the vicinity of the Royal Palace, the Flea Market, and the Cathedral. Then return to the terminal along the ancient via Roma. The second route takes you to the beautiful villas of Palermo. Starting from the terminal outside the Politeama Theatre, admire the gorgeous English Garden and then continue towards Villa Malfitano and the wonderful Zisa Castle. The tour passes near the Mercato del Capo and the Massimo Theatre, towards the port, and then returns to the terminal in Politeama Square.

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: Art and Architecture Walking Tour

4. Palermo: Art and Architecture Walking Tour

Discover the historical monuments of Palermo on a small group half-day tour, and learn the fascinating history of the city, from its birth under the Phoenicians through the Roman Republic and the Byzantine Empire to the modern day. Wander the winding streets of the Politeama sestiere (district) to see iconic buildings such as the Teatro Politeama and Teatro Massimo, one of the largest opera houses in Europe. Learn about the Arab-Norman era and religious rites at sites such as the 12th-century Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) in the Palazzo Reale. Look in wonder at the splendid façade of Palermo Cathedral, characterized by different architectural styles, from the Gothic through the early Renaissance and Baroque. Learn more about the hidden treasures of the historical center and hear amazing stories that take you on a journey through time.

Palermo: Teatro Massimo Opera House Guided Tour

5. Palermo: Teatro Massimo Opera House Guided Tour

Get to know Palermo's famous opera house on this 30 minute guided tour. Explore the stunning auditorium and other rooms of the third largest opera house in Europe. Start your tour in the foyer. Admire the sculptures and bronze-decorated candelabra in this opulent place. Next, move to the auditorium and enjoy the golden stuccoes, wooden decorations, and features in velvet and glass. Visit the stage and see what happens to enable the staging of an opera. Admire the gorgeous royal box, as well as other areas like the Coat of Arms and Pompeian Rooms. Learn fascinating facts about the opera house, and enjoy breathtaking views of Palermo from the building's top.

Palermo: Small Group Night Street Food Tour

6. Palermo: Small Group Night Street Food Tour

Meet your local guide at the main opera house and get to know the other travelers. You'll then walk through the streets before having a welcome toast. Enjoy a glass of fresh Sicilian wine and some interesting bites that you won't normally find in touristy places. On this tour, you'll get to know the real Palermo, its food, its people, and its secrets. Learn about the Sicilian lifestyle as you stroll towards the old port of Palermo. Stop at street food stalls in the heart of Vucciria and sample the best bites selected by your guide. You will get to try the famous spleen sandwich and hear some interesting facts about its origins. The small group allows for easy interaction with your guide and the rest of the group. Your guide will then show you hidden spots and discuss several topics during the walk, from history to art to social issues. Feel free to ask your guide whatever you want. The walk ends at the old port of Palermo for one last sweet treat, a Brioche with ice cream. This will be the memorable end to the tour and your last chance to get some tips to help you enjoy the rest of your stay as much as possible.

Palermo: Walking Tour of Historic Markets and Monuments

7. Palermo: Walking Tour of Historic Markets and Monuments

Explore Palermo's historic center led by a seasoned guide. Hear about the history of the capital of Sicily while admiring notable monuments such as the Teatro Massimo, the Cathedral, and the Quattro Canti, before wandering through markets for local wares and traditional street food. Start the tour by entering the Palermo Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed site dating from the early 12th century. Admire its iconic bell towers and learn about its architectural evolution through time. Then, stop by the Massimo Theater and hear about the ghostly legends surrounding it. You'll visit other must-see landmarks like the baroque Quattro Canti plaza, and the imposing Fontana Pretoria in the Piazza of the same name. Along the way, discover the myths and legends of Siciliy like the mysterious Beati Paoli sect, and the city's patron saint Santa Rosalia, or La Santuzza. Finally, walk through the Capo street market and take the opportunity to try some of Palermo's delicacies like Sicilian street food and pastries.

Palermo di sera: tour alla scoperta del centro storico

8. Palermo di sera: tour alla scoperta del centro storico

At the indicated time, we will meet in Piazza Verdi in front of the Teatro Massimo, in the center of Palermo, to start an evening tour of the Sicilian capital. Ready to immerse yourself in a unique and timeless atmosphere? We will start by admiring the famous Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Italy. In front of its imposing facade, (often a set of famous films) we will talk about the history of the Florio family, promoters of the cultural and artistic transformation of Palermo during the Belle Époque as well as the construction of the theater itself. We will pass in front of the Opera dei Pupi theater, where the most famous performances of the Sicilian puppet tradition are staged. Did you know that this art has been declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco? We will head towards Piazza Olivella, where the Regional Archaeological Museum and the church of Sant'Ignazio are located, one of the most sumptuous Baroque temples in the city. Not far away is the birthplace of Santa Rosalia, proclaimed patron saint of the city by popular acclaim for having freed it from the plague. We will cross via Roma, a monumental and busy nineteenth-century street full of theaters and shops to arrive at piazza San Domenico dominated by the imposing mass of the church of the same name, the Pantheon of the city. Inside you can admire many tombs and funeral monuments of illustrious Sicilians including that of Giovanni Falcone. We will enter the Vucciria, the city's celebrated ancient market immortalized in a famous painting by Renato Guttuso. We will then head to the Quattro Canti, a scenic Baroque square, the center of the ancient city. Next to it is Piazza Pretoria with its renowned Renaissance fountain and Palazzo delle Aquile, the center of civil power in the city since '400. We will arrive in Piazza Bellini, entirely surrounded by ancient monuments including the characteristic church of San Cataldo with the three red Arab-style domes, symbol of the city and the church and monastery of Santa Caterina where typical Sicilian sweets are still produced according to the ancient recipes of the nuns. We will be able to stop for a coffee in the historic Torrefazione Stagnitta before reaching Piazza Croce dei Vespri, famous for the famous Sicilian revolution of 1200. We will admire Palazzo Ganci famous for being the famous set of the film The Leopard and Palazzo Bonnet, an imposing palace from the '300 today home to the Modern Art Gallery. We will cross a neighborhood full of young artisans' shops to conclude our evening tour in Piazza San Francesco where the majestic fourteenth-century church stands out, the oratory of San Lorenzo where the stolen Caravaggio was located and where the Antica Focacceria San Francesco has been located since point of reference of popular Palermo cuisine.

Palermo: Street Food and Local Market Tasting Tour

9. Palermo: Street Food and Local Market Tasting Tour

Explore the main markets and backstreets of Palermo city center with a local food expert. Escape the usual tourist traps and discover venues loved by the locals for a fully immersive foodie experience. You will easily find arancini around the streets but there is only one place in town that still makes the thousand-year-old recipe, you will find it on this tour. Your guides will have selected various bouquets of traditional street food for you. Enjoy veggie fritters, soft ravazzata with spinach, and a challenging offal sandwich. All tours end with a seasonal dessert. The amount of food will substitute for your lunch. Venture down secret alleyways to chat with street food vendors and colorful characters. Enter the oldest working-class bar downtown and share a drink with Palermitans. The small group tour will allow you to interact with your local guide and collect the best tips to enjoy the city like a local. This is a truly authentic street experience. Local guides discuss many topics besides cuisine in order to make you feel the real street spirit of Palermo.

From Sciacca: Palermo and Monreale Day Trip

10. From Sciacca: Palermo and Monreale Day Trip

Program: Authentic Palermo: First stop is at the Catacombs, you will have about 30 minutes, ask for Massimo for an explanation, very helpful person. We continue further to the center of Palermo from where the free walking tour will begin, after which we will leave you in front of the Palatine Chapel where you can also ticket to the Royal or Norman Palace. Further on, a few hundred meters away, you will find the beautiful Cathedral and then continue through the streets of the center of Palermo where you will still have 3 hours, enough time to visit the points of greatest interest that you will find marked on your map such as: The 4 Canti, the Church of the Martorana, Piazza Pretoria (or Piazza della Vergogna), Palazzo Steri, Teatro Massimo and Politeama and above all the nearby markets that are very characteristic of Palermo such as the Capo, the Vucciria where you can taste typical Sicilian street food. Monreale: Later, at 2:30 pm, you are scheduled to Depart from Piazza Politeama for the magnificent Cathedral of Monreale and on the way you will have a chance to admire other aspects and beautiful places of Palermo. Second is the visit to Monreale, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, where you will visit the Cathedral and its magnificent Cloister. Finally, we recommend a good ice cream with brioche at Bar Italia and, before returning, a look from the Belvedere, it has a beautiful view of the whole of Palermo and, if you are lucky, you will be able to see the Aeolian islands as well.

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What people are saying about Teatro Massimo

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 1,239 reviews

It was the best 3 hours I spent in Palermo. I couldn't recommend it more highly. Our guide, Hermes, was so knowledgeable and answered each question we had so thoroughly. I had two children with me on this your and Hermes thought about them and made it interesting for them too. If I ever get back to Palermo I would do thus tour again in a heartbeat.

Ambra provided an amazing tour explaining the history and architecture of the city of Palermo. My wife and I really enjoyed walking through the city with the guide learning about the insights that added much to the charm of the city.

The history and storytelling was excellent and very moving. Definitely recommend. Myself and 18 year old son went on the tour

It was easy to book and use the tkt, we had timely assistance when we needed it. Recommended

Good way to get trip round the town and get on/off where you want.