Explore Palermo
The thirteen places to discover during your stay
1. Norman Palace & Palatine Chapel
Also called the Royal Palace of Palermo, the Norman palace, which you can find in Piazza Indipendenza, is the perfect representation of the cultural mix of Palermo. Built to house the Arab emirs, it was later occupied by the Normans who expanded it, and later by the Spaniards. Nowadays, it is the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly.
Its architectural style is cosmopolitan and retains traces of the different cultures that have inhabited it. Of the palace interiors, what struck me the most were its courtyards, gardens and King Roger Room. The mosaics depicting the hunting scenes are truly incredible!
But the jewel of the Norman palace is the Palatine chapel, a masterpiece in the Arab-Norman-Byzantine style. The chapel was commissioned by King Roger II to host the royal family’s masses.
The most incredible thing inside the Palatine chapel are the incredible gold mosaics, which decorate both the walls and the ceiling. Some of them also represent human figures, which was not very common for the time.
It is the most beautiful Byzantine chapel in Palermo and is considered by many to be the most beautiful church in all of Sicily.
If you wish to visit the Palazzo dei Normanni during your stay, you can find the latest information, including opening hours, on the official website of the Palazzo.
2. St. John of the Hermits
After the Norman palace, it is possible to visit St. John of the Hermits (San Giovanni degli Eremiti), a medieval Norman church.
Famous and easily recognizable from the outside thanks to its deep red domes, its interior is also worth a visit. The cloister and its gardens are truly splendid, and represent the perfect place to rest from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The church itself is very simple, thanks to its skilful mix of Muslim and Norman styles.
3. The Cathedral of Palermo
Not far from the Norman Palace, go up Via Vittorio Emanuele and you will find the 2nd Monument of Palermo not to be missed: the Cathedral of Palermo. Surely one of the best places to visit in the Sicilian capital!
You can visit the crypt and see the tombs of kings and queens, including the tomb of King Roger II. Also present here is the Cathedral Treasury, a collection of royal jewels from the 12th century.
While you are here, you should seriously consider the idea of climbing the roofs of the cathedral to admire a beautiful panorama that extends over the whole city.
4. The Ballarò Market
We recommend that you visit the Ballarò Market, one of the largest and most typical in the city.
In this colorful market, you can find the best products from all over Sicily, including fruit, vegetables, cheese and of course fish. And all this is offered at unbeatable prices!
In addition to food stalls, you can also find dishes, electronic products, and many other cheap things.
5. I Quattro Canti
The Quattro Canti intersection represents the intersection of the 2 main streets of Palermo, Via Vittorio Emanuele (the street where the Cathedral is located) and Via Maqueda which leads to the Teatro Massimo.
When you visit Palermo, you should really take a walk around this intersection to admire these 4 perfectly symmetrical facades. They have all been built following the same model: at the base, there is a fountain that represents the seasons; on the first level there are the statues of the kings of Palermo while on the last level, there are the representations of the 4 patron saints of Palermo.
6. The Theather Massimo Vittorio Emanuele
From the Quattro Canti, take Via Maqueda, this road will take you directly to the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, another place of interest in Palermo.
The Teatro Massimo in Palermo, inaugurated in 1897, is the largest opera house in Italy and the third largest in Europe. It is preceded only by the opera houses of Paris and Vienna! Its immense size, at the time, was the subject of controversy as people wondered if Palermo really needed such a work.
This quickly transformed into one of the most famous theaters in Italy, thanks to the quality of the theatrical performances and operas that take place here.
Closed in 1974, it was only reopened in 1997 after 23 years of work accompanied by political scandals and episodes of corruption.
Today, the theater continues to host world-class works. Tickets are quite expensive, but the theater also organizes guided tours every day. There are several packages available with or without behind the scenes access. The complete visit costs € 20 and allows you to access the roofs of the Teatro Massimo, for a 360 degree view of Palermo.
You can find all the information on the Massimo theater on their official website.
7. The Regional Archaeological Museum of Palermo
The Regional Archaeological Museum of Palermo, also known as the Salinas Museum, is located near the Teatro Massimo, inside an ancient palace.
Divided into 3 floors, it houses an impressive collection of works from the Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian and Greek eras, some of which come from the famous temple of Selinunte.
The works are well presented and the surrounding environment is particularly pleasant: beautiful courtyards with exotic trees and refreshing fountains. The perfect place for a cultural visit in complete tranquility!
And do you know what is best? That the entrance to the museum is totally free, so you have no excuse not to visit it!
8. Regional Art Gallery of Sicily, in Palazzo Abatellis
Another museum to visit in Palermo is the Regional Art Museum of Sicily .
This is located in Palazzo Abatellis, a Catalan Gothic palace, former residence of Francesco Abatellis, master portolano of the Kingdom of Sicily.
The regional museum has an important collection of paintings, statues and frescoes.
Among the things to see absolutely: the fresco of the “Triumph of death” (anonymous work), the “Annunciation of the Virgin” by Antonio da Messina, the bust of Eleonora d’Aragona and the “Malvagna” triptych, painted by Mabuse.
9. The Botanical Garden and Villa Giulia
If you want to immerse yourself in the green, you can go to the Botanical Garden of Palermo , which is located a few steps from the Foro Italico</strong >, in Via Lincoln.
Take a walk through the shady alleys to enjoy some freshness. The botanical garden is home to various species of both Mediterranean and exotic trees and plants, many fruit trees such as oranges, lemons and greenhouses. Don’t miss the gigantic ficus with intertwined branches, the most famous tree in the whole garden.
Admission is subject to a fee (the standard price is € 5).
Our advice: if you don’t want to pay for the botanical garden, but still want some shade, you can go to Villa Giulia, which is located right next to the botanical garden.
Access is free and the locals particularly love this place! It is the most beautiful public garden in Palermo, with statues, fountains and many benches on which to rest for a while. At the bottom of the garden, you will also find a bar to quench your thirst.
10. The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo
If you are looking for a somewhat unusual visit during your trip to Palermo, you should definitely visit the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo. Yes, these catacombs are one of the places of interest to visit in Palermo, and they certainly represent the most memorable place I visited during my stay.
Originally, only monks could be buried inside the Catacombs of the Capuchin Monastery . But over time, many Sicilians, mostly from noble families, asked to be buried there.
Thanks to a dehydration and embalming process, the bodies have remained very well preserved. In their will, the dead also chose the clothes with which they wished to be embalmed. Families could visit them and make donations to the monastery, allowing the monks to keep the bodies.
Thanks to these donations, the catacombs have survived to the present day .
Today the catacombs count almost 8,000 mummies divided into different sections: monks, women, men, children, etc… The visit is particularly suggestive because most of these are exposed on the walls and are still extremely well preserved.
The most famous mummy and one of the best preserved in the world is Rosalia, a 2-year-old girl who died of pneumonia. Her hair and her face are so well preserved, she really looks like she is sleeping. Definitely disturbing!
11. The Palaces of Palermo
In addition to the Palazzo dei Normanni, the city of Palermo is full of palaces to visit or simply to admire. Some are more or less well preserved.
Here is the list of my favorite buildings to discover during your trip to Palermo:
- Palazzo Gangi: This sumptuous palace is well known for being the place where the film “Il Gattopardo” by Luchino Visconti was filmed. The Gangi family still lives here today, so the palace has preserved all its ancient splendor. You will not be able to visit it alone, as you will have to make a group booking of at least 20 people.
- Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri: It is believed that this palace was the headquarters of Court of the Inquisition for over 150 years. You can discover the prison cells, covered with graffiti made by prisoners with their blood and urine, and learn more about the horrors of torture during the Inquisition.
- Palazzo Mirto: A splendid palace with authentic decorations and original furniture. It represents the lifestyle of a rich 18th century Palermo family.
- The Zisa palace houses the Museum of Islamic Art. Wonderful to see from the outside and quite interesting inside.
12. The Cathedral of Monreale
If you have a few more days to spend during your holidays in Palermo, I highly recommend you to visit the Cathedral of Monreale.
This must-see attraction is 30 minutes by car from the center of Palermo and it would be a real shame to miss it. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it represents a masterpiece of architecture, especially its interior.
This Norman-Byzantine style church had 2 towers. After being struck by lightning, now only 1 and a half are left.
As soon as you step inside, you will be delighted! It is covered with over 6,500 square meters of gold mosaics, depicting scenes from the New and Old Testament. Really amazing!
Next to the cathedral, you can also admire the cloister. It is really beautiful and each column has its own unique decoration.
After your visit to the cathedral, you should take a tour of the city of Monreale, to enjoy some of its beautiful viewpoints.
13. Mondello Beach
After all these historical and cultural visits, why not go to the beach? After all, you are in Sicily also to enjoy the pleasures of the sea, isn’t it?
From Palermo it is possible to reach Mondello beach in 30 minutes by car.
With its fine sand and clear water, is the favorite beach of the Palermitans . Here you will find plenty of deck chairs to rent, but there is also a free public area where you can place your towel. And if you are looking for restaurants and places to eat, you will find dozens of them!
Well, at this point I prefer to warn you that the place is definitely very crowded! But on the other hand, with its shallow water, it is the ideal place if you have children.
