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Tours in Palermo |
Palazzo dei Normanni e Cappella Palatina (Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel)
The Palazzo, which used to be the royal residence in Norman times, is now the seat of the Regional Parliament. Founded by King Roger II in 1130, the Cappella Palatina is a jewel of Norman art with splendid Arab honeycomb wooden ceiling and exquisite Byzantine mosaics in shades of gold and blue.
Piazza Indipendenza
Tel: (091) 696 1111.
Palatine Chapel
Tel: (091) 705 4732/4317.
Website: www.palermoweb.com/cittadelsole/monumenti/cappella_palatina.htm
Norman Palace
Tel: (091) 705 1111.
Website: www.palermoweb.com/cittadelsole/monumenti/palazzo_normanni.htm
San Giovanni degli Eremiti (St John of the Hermits)
Built in 1132, this is the most obviously Arabic of the city's Norman relics, with five ochre domes topping a little church built on the remains of an earlier mosque. There is a beautiful cloister and luxuriant garden, making this a peaceful haven in the Albergheria.
Via dei Benedettini
Tel: (091) 651 5019.
La Cattedrale (The Cathedral)
Built in the 12th century by the Normans, the cathedral was altered in later centuries, which explains its not altogether graceful exterior. Its imposing bulk, however, demands a visit.
Via Vittorio Emanuele
Tel: (091) 334 376.
Mercato della Vucciria (Vucciria Market)
A very atmospheric place, this is the oldest market in the city, selling fish (the local speciality is salted anchovies in a jar), herbs, fruit and veg, and other local produce. The Vucciria, which spreads in a maze of side streets around Piazza San Domenico, is where the Mafia traditionally recruited its hitmen, and although the place is a lot safer than it used to be, keep your wits about and don't flash jewellery or money, as pickpockets still operate in the area. Early morning is when the market is at its busiest, and most colourful.
Piazza Caracciolo, Piazza Garraffello
Chiesa Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio o Martorana (La Martorana)
One of Palermo's most beautiful churches, dating back to the 12th century, La Martorana boasts plendid mosaics, Baroque frescoes and an interesting campanile.
Piazza Bellini 3
Tel: (091) 616 1692.
Catacombe dei Cappuccini (Capuchin Catacombs)
The catacombs contain the bodies of some 8,000 ecclesiastics and distinguished citizens embalmed by Capuchin friars.
Via Cappuccini 1
Tel: (091) 212 117.
Orto Botanico (Botanical Gardens)
The lush Orto Botanico is an oasis in the city. It houses an enormous variety of exotic plants, and the excellent Archaeological Museum (see Further Distractions).
Via Abramo Lincoln 25
Tel: (091) 623 8234 or 800 903 631, in Italy only.
Website: www.ortobotanico.palermo.it
Galleria Regionale della Sicilia (Sicilian Regional Gallery)
Housed in the beautiful Abatellis Palazzo, this is a pictorial testimony to the island from the 11th to the 17th centuries. There is no shortage of sculptures and paintings to admire here, many by Sicilian artists, but don't miss the Triumph of Death (15th-century), an amazing fresco by an unknown artist, and the Annunciation by Antonello da Messina.
Via Alloro 4
Tel: (091) 623 0011.
The Palazzo, which used to be the royal residence in Norman times, is now the seat of the Regional Parliament. Founded by King Roger II in 1130, the Cappella Palatina is a jewel of Norman art with splendid Arab honeycomb wooden ceiling and exquisite Byzantine mosaics in shades of gold and blue.
Piazza Indipendenza
Tel: (091) 696 1111.
Palatine Chapel
Tel: (091) 705 4732/4317.
Website: www.palermoweb.com/cittadelsole/monumenti/cappella_palatina.htm
Norman Palace
Tel: (091) 705 1111.
Website: www.palermoweb.com/cittadelsole/monumenti/palazzo_normanni.htm
San Giovanni degli Eremiti (St John of the Hermits)
Built in 1132, this is the most obviously Arabic of the city's Norman relics, with five ochre domes topping a little church built on the remains of an earlier mosque. There is a beautiful cloister and luxuriant garden, making this a peaceful haven in the Albergheria.
Via dei Benedettini
Tel: (091) 651 5019.
La Cattedrale (The Cathedral)
Built in the 12th century by the Normans, the cathedral was altered in later centuries, which explains its not altogether graceful exterior. Its imposing bulk, however, demands a visit.
Via Vittorio Emanuele
Tel: (091) 334 376.
Mercato della Vucciria (Vucciria Market)
A very atmospheric place, this is the oldest market in the city, selling fish (the local speciality is salted anchovies in a jar), herbs, fruit and veg, and other local produce. The Vucciria, which spreads in a maze of side streets around Piazza San Domenico, is where the Mafia traditionally recruited its hitmen, and although the place is a lot safer than it used to be, keep your wits about and don't flash jewellery or money, as pickpockets still operate in the area. Early morning is when the market is at its busiest, and most colourful.
Piazza Caracciolo, Piazza Garraffello
Chiesa Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio o Martorana (La Martorana)
One of Palermo's most beautiful churches, dating back to the 12th century, La Martorana boasts plendid mosaics, Baroque frescoes and an interesting campanile.
Piazza Bellini 3
Tel: (091) 616 1692.
Catacombe dei Cappuccini (Capuchin Catacombs)
The catacombs contain the bodies of some 8,000 ecclesiastics and distinguished citizens embalmed by Capuchin friars.
Via Cappuccini 1
Tel: (091) 212 117.
Orto Botanico (Botanical Gardens)
The lush Orto Botanico is an oasis in the city. It houses an enormous variety of exotic plants, and the excellent Archaeological Museum (see Further Distractions).
Via Abramo Lincoln 25
Tel: (091) 623 8234 or 800 903 631, in Italy only.
Website: www.ortobotanico.palermo.it
Galleria Regionale della Sicilia (Sicilian Regional Gallery)
Housed in the beautiful Abatellis Palazzo, this is a pictorial testimony to the island from the 11th to the 17th centuries. There is no shortage of sculptures and paintings to admire here, many by Sicilian artists, but don't miss the Triumph of Death (15th-century), an amazing fresco by an unknown artist, and the Annunciation by Antonello da Messina.
Via Alloro 4
Tel: (091) 623 0011.
