Palermo is recognized as the most conquered city in history, and boasts Europe’s second-largest historical centre.
It has over 230 ancient Churches (many of these more than 1000 years old). There are 12 UNESCO and is home to four ancient street markets that are among the oldest in all of Europe.
With so much to see and do is there any reason why we start of Taste of Sicily tour in Palermo. Our first night kicks of with a private wine tasting and an introduction to Sicilian Wines in a beautifully restored private Palazzo in the heart of the historic centre of Palermo.
Many of our guests arrive a day early, plus we have built in some free time on our first full day to explore Palermo. Here are some of my suggestions on what to see and do.
Orientate Yourself and Walk Vittorio Emanuele
The ancient street triumphantly runs in a perfectly straight line for nearly two miles from the sea and Porto Felice (and not far from our hotel) to Porta Nuova, and encompasses much of Palermo’s main attractions. Quattro Canti (Four Corners) is located at the intersection of Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda, making it the heart of this city’s old historic district. And always a great spot to stop and people watch, listen to buskers or if you are lucky catch a parade.
No Mafia Memorial
Mention Sicily and most will think of the Mafia. I am hoping our Taste of Sicily tour shows our guests there is so much more interesting history to Sicily than the Mafia! Having said that it is good to understand the cultural context that gave rise to the mafia and it’s effect on this island. I highly recommend the No Mafia memorial for its thoughtful insight.
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 353
Entry is free but a donation welcome. Open from 11am -4pm
Saint Catherine Cloister And I Segreti Del Chiostro Bakery
One of the oldest Monasteries of Palermo. From 1311 until 2014 it hosted cloistered nuns from the Dominican order. Inside the cloister, there is an ancient bakery which prepares typical Palermitan pastries such as Cannoli and Cassata with the traditional and original recipes used by nuns. Each year we bring guests to this “hidden gem” the busier it is. And, although now on every “influencers” list it is still well worth the line and visit! Get a taste of your first cannolo in Palermo sitting in the shadow of trees with birds singing.
Work off the pastries by exploring the church, the cloister, the sacristy, the prioress’ room and climb up to the dome with breathtaking 360° views over Palermo. Remember that Palermo has one of the most well-preserved historical city centres and at that time no buildings had to be higher than a dome.
Piazza Marina, 59, 90133 Pa.
Cloister & shop open daily 9:30am – 1:30pm & 3:00pm – 7 :00 pm
Cloister & shop only free, Monastery and terrace € 8 , Church, monastery and terrace € 10
Fontana Pretoria
In the centre of Palermo, Sicily, is the Piazza Pretoria. This bustling square is the place to go for street musicians and locals — everyone hanging out and enjoying the balmy evening air. The centrepiece of the piazza is the unique Pretoria Fountain, surrounded by regal stone stairs.
During the day, the Fontana Pretoria is the perfect place to spend some time before heading to Caffè del Kassaro, a great lunch spot with amazing pizza. At night, the 16th-century fountain is lit up, making this spot even more beautiful.
The fountain was nicknamed the ‘Fountain of Shame’, positioned between a nunnery and a monastery you may guess why.
Palermo Cathedral
Completed in 1184 a re-converted Christian church on the site of a Muslim Mosque that was previously built over a Christian basilica, the cathedral’s aim was to “surpass the beauty” of Monreale Cathedral (we have the option to visit the afternoon of our first full day).
The cathedral, set within its palm-tree fringed piazza, dominates the skyline and its architectural grandeur (encompassing several distinct periods and styles) certainly impresses.
Open Monday to Saturday from 9 am – 6 pm, and 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays.
Entry is free for those only visiting the basilica area of the church, however if you wish to visit the tombs, treasury, crypts and terrace (which, after a climb up 100 or so narrow steps, offers the best views of Palermo), the entry is €12 per person, with concessions available.
It is also possible to buy tickets separately if you don’t wish to visit every area.
My tip – even if you are not into churches it’s worth climbing to the top of the Cathedral for a 360 degree view of Palermo!
Norman Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni)
The Norman Palace is one of the oldest royal residences in Europe, and a must-see in the Sicilian capital. Although it doesn’t look much from the outside, the interior is stunning, particularly the gold mosaic detailing of the Capella.
Palatine Chapel
One of Palermo’s UNESCO Heritage sites, this is one of Palermo’s top tourist attraction, according to Lonely Planet.
Begun in 1130, the year of Roger II’s coronation as the first king of Sicily, it was completed in 13 years and consecrated, as an inscription in the dome attests, in 1143. In this church, described by Maupassant as “the most beautiful religious jewel dreamt of by human thought“, the fusion of the vast diversity of Sicily’s origins – European, Sicilian, Byzantine and Arab – is realised in visual terms.
The chapel has the form of a western basilica with a nave and two aisles divided by granite columns with rich gilded Corinthian capitals; the decorated floors and the inlays on the steps, balustrades and lower part of the walls are also western in style, although influenced by southern tastes.
Cost | €15.50 – this includes entrance to the Palatine Chapel, Royal Gardens, exhibition and Punic Walls. If you’d also like to visit the entire complex, tickets cost €19.
Open Monday to Saturday 8.30 am – 4.30 pm, Sundays and public holidays 8.30 am – 12.30 pm.
Opera House Teatro Massimo
The third largest Opera house in Europe with a stunning auditorium famous for its perfect acoustics. Discover the Royal box with Murao glass chandelier and red brocade sofas or the famous Symbolic wheel system of the Dome for the natural ventilation of the theatre. Tours are available daily from 9.30 am – 5.30pm (last tour at 5.00pm). The tour lasts about 30 minutes and it is available in English.
Piazza Verdi along Via Maqueda Open Daily from 9.30 am – 5.30pm
Adults € 10
Botanical Garden
A pleasant walk through an incredible variety of plants, palms, lily pads, bamboos and the great magnoloide fig (one of the biggest trees in Europe) just around the corner from our hotel. 10 acres of garden give an idea of the great economical and colonialist power of the Bourbon kingdom just in the aftermath of the European enlightenment.
Via Lincoln 2 / When: Monday – Sunday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm , (last entrance 5pm) Price: € 7
Catacombe dei Cappuchini
Definitely one of the more unusual things to do in Palermo! The eerie catacombs are located underneath the Capuchin Monastery, where you’ll find dark corridors filled with the mummified remains of thousands of corpses. Most of the remains are incredibly well preserved and dressed in clothes from the time of their death.
This spiritual site can sometimes feel quite morbid, so it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted!
Entry fee and opening times: 3 EUR (cash). Open 9 AM – 12:30 PM, 3 PM – 5:30 PM. Please note that no pictures are allowed inside, as this is an important spiritual site.
Museo Internazionale Delle Marionette Antonio Pasqualino – International Puppet Museum
Association for the Conservation of Folk Traditions and undertook the collection of diverse pieces of evidence protecting them from destruction and oblivion: scripts, puppets, theatres and pieces of furniture and in 1975 founded the Inter-national Puppet Museum where the items collected over the years found their home: objects from lots of European countries and the Far East such as France, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and so on.
Piazza Antonio Pasqualino 1
Sunday & Monday 10:00 – 2:00 pm Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 – 6:00 pm
PUPPET SHOW: Monday 11:00 am Tuesday to Saturday 5:00 pm
Puppet Show Ticket € 10 – Only Visit ticket € 5
Monreale
One of Sicily’s finest treasures, Monreale ranks among one of the most stunning cathedrals in Italy.
Perched on the hill above Palermo the cathedral dates back to the 12th century and is known for its very impressive 6.340 square meters Byzantine gold mosaics. You will definitely have a kink in your neck after staring up in wonder.
Remember – As it’s a church you need to be dressed appropriately – covered knees and shoulders are required.
Looking for a great day out?
Catch the train to Cefalù a wonderful beachside town. And while the town is renowned for its Norman cathedral, which is a masterpiece of Sicilian Romanesque architecture and houses spectacular mosaics I think Cefalù’s attraction sis its sandy beach and winding Mediaeval streets flanked with all manner of shops, and restaurants.
For the energetic climb La Rocca. The views are spectacular, while the walls of the old Saracen stronghold and the remains of a Temple of Diana are fascinating.
Interested in finding out more about our small group culinary tour of Sicily? Read more here about the other amazing places we visit or click here to see all the details of our next Taste of Sicily tour
