Palermo Walking Tour and Guided Visit to Palazzo dei Normanni
Description
Discover the captivating allure of Palermo on our combined tour, where history and culture converge to offer an unforgettable experience. Delve into the city's rich tapestry of Baroque and Normann-Arab architecture, exploring iconic sites like the Praetorian Square and its mesmerizing marble fountain. Immerse yourself in centuries of Sicilian history as you tour the magnificent Palazzo dei Normanni, Europe's oldest royal residence, and marvel at the intricate beauty of the Palatine Chapel. With expert guidance, witness the fusion of Islamic, Byzantine, and Norman influences that adorn these architectural wonders. From the opulence of the palace to the sublime beauty of the chapel, this tour promises to be a journey through time and culture, offering a deeper understanding of Palermo's fascinating heritage. If you're short on time during your vacation in Palermo, take advantage of getting to know the most beautiful attractions with our combined tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house and opera company located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II. It is the biggest in Italy, and one of the largest of Europe.
San Domenico is a Baroque-style Roman Catholic church, located on Piazza San Domenico, and located in the ancient quarter of La Loggia, in central Palermo. Piazza San Domenico opens to Via Roma a few blocks south of the large Palazzo delle Poste, and a few blocks north of Sant'Antonio Abate and Teatro Biondo, is the northern border of the warren of alleys of the Vucciria neighborhood. The church houses the burial monuments of many notable Sicilians, and is known thus as the Pantheon of illustrious Sicilians
While Palermo has a number of bustling outdoor markets worth exploring for the lively atmosphere, the most famous is Vucciria Market, known locally as La Vucciria. Located in the historic center around Piazza San Domenico, the stalls predominantly sell fish, meat, and produce—but you can find a little of everything here
The Praetorian Fountain is a monumental fountain located in Piazza Pretoria in the historic center of Palermo. The fountain dominates the piazza on the west flank of the church of Santa Caterina, and is one block south of the intersection of the Quattro Canti. The fountain was originally built in 1544 in Florence by Francesco Camilliani, but was sold, transferred, and reassembled in Palermo in 1574
Quattro Canti, officially known as Piazza Vigliena, is a Baroque square in Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy; it is considered the center of the historic quarters of the city
Palermo Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palermo. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
The Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace) is also called Royal Palace of Palermo. It was the seat of the Kings of Sicily with the Hauteville dynasty and served afterwards as the main seat of power for the subsequent rulers of Sicily. Since 1946 it has been the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly
The Palatine Chapel is the royal chapel of the Norman Palace in Palermo, Sicily. This building is a mixture of Byzantine, Norman and Fatimid architectural styles, showing the tricultural state of Sicily during the 12th century after Roger I and Robert Guiscard conquered the island
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(6)
It is an excellent way to start getting to know Palermo and all its richness. Martha was a wonderful guide!
The walking tour around Palermo’s historic core was just right: we strolled through La Vucciria, Piazza Pretoria, saw the Quattro Canti and even got a sweet pause for granita. Then heading into the Palazzo dei Normanni…wow! The guide shared the palace’s layered stories from Arab to Norman influenceand the Cappella Palatina mosaics are something I’ll never forget. So beautiful!!
We took the tour with our guide Paula and a group of 13 people. The tour left on time from the meeting point. We had audio guides which helped a lot to understand Paula’s excellent explanations and stories about the history of Palermo. We covered the most important points of interest in the historic part of town like the Teatro Massimo, Cuatro Canti, the Cathedral and many more, and also learned a lot about the different neighborhoods and even a little about the fight against the Mafia. In the afternoon Paula took us to the Norman Palace, like the Cathedral an excellent example of Arab-Norman architecture and we visited the Palatine Chapel, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a real impressive place of art and history. The palace is the oldest royal residence in Europe and housed the Norman Kings as well as the German Emperors Henry VI and Frederik II as kings of Sicily. Thank’s to Paula did we learn a lot about Sicily and Palermo during this terrific tour. Highly recommended.
The guide was extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, made sure everyone got a good experience and understood what she was explaining. The locations and the history was amazing.
The tour was, in fact, two tours combined which we had not appreciated but which worked perfectly as there was an 'interlude' of 45 minutes for lunch. Paulina was a wonderful guide, genuine, knowledgeable and natural and a delight to spend time with. During the first part of the tour (3 hours) Paulina led us through Palermo's streets and history and gave us a real feel for the place. After a rest, a bite to eat and some shade before the second tour (1.5 hours) we felt refreshed. The interior of the Royal Palaces is quite wonderful and mesmerising, showcasing the blend of styles, the long history and the retention and celebration of past cultures and influences: a must see. Very glad we chose this two tour combo which was a very efficient way to access the city and it's past.
