Private Monreale, Cefalù & Castelbuono Tour, from Palermo area
Description
Visit of Arab-Norman town Monreale, with its amazing view panoramic overlooking the famous Conca d Oro and entire city of Palermo. In this town the art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Dome launched in 1174 by William II and represent the scene from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Visit of Cefalù, the town is one of the major tourist attractions in the region and every year it attracts thousands of tourists from all parts of the world, in summer the population can triple, making the main streets in the country crowded. So there is then a youthful atmosphere and a lively nightlife. Visit of Castelbuono, the construction of its Castle began in 1316, by order of Count Francesco I of Ventimiglia, over the ruins of the ancient Byzantine town of Ypsigro, Hence its original name, Castello del buon aere (Castle of good air). No tour guide is included - only the driver who speaks a basic English to notice you about the places included in itinerary.
Tour Options
Itinerary
visit of Arab-Norman town Monreale, with its amazing view panoramic overlooking the famous Conca d Oro and entire city of Palermo. In this town the art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Dome launched in 1174 by William II and represent the scene from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics.
The town is one of the major tourist attractions in the region and every year it attracts thousands of tourists from all parts of the world, in summer the population can triple, making the main streets in the country crowded. So there is then a youthful atmosphere and a lively nightlife. Of Greek foundation, the city evidently derived its name from its position on a lofty and precipitous rock, forming a headland which projecting into the sea and stunning beaches of fine sand. The ancient main site is its Cathedral, begun in 1131, in a style of Norman architecture which would be more accurately called Sicilian Romanesque, moreover you can visit so many Churches and old Palaces.
he construction of the Castle began in 1316, by order of Count Francesco I of Ventimiglia, over the ruins of the ancient Byzantine town of Ypsigro, Hence its original name, Castello del buon aere (Castle of good air). The Castle mixes Arab-Norman features with others typical of the built during the Hohenstaufen rule of southern Italy the cube shape recalls Arabic architecture. In the second floor rises the sumptuous Cappella Palatina (Palace Chapel) was built in 1683 by the brothers Giuseppe and Giacomo Serpotta, with a great profusion of precious marble, stuccowork, putti, and friezes that commemorate the most resplendent moments in the history of the House of Ventimiglia and you can find around the town.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Palermo Airport, Falcone & Borsellino, Punta Raisi and everywhere in Palermo area
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Reviews(53)
See a lot of Sicily in one day. Beautiful church, charming towns, great food, beautiful scenery and a great ride in a Mercedes E-class.
Fabio is very personable, knowledgeable and fun. We traveled to 3 cities, visited the museum sites, had time to walk around the towns. He was at the pick up spots on time. Very nice gentleman.
Dario, our driver, was friendly and flexible with the schedule as it was a private tour. We spent more time at Moreale and Cefalu and skipped the castle completely. Dario recommended a great restaurant in Cefalu with great view, delicious food, reasonable price, and excellent service. Truly enjoyed the whole day experience.
Very nice trip to Monreal, Cevalu and Castelbuono. Nice guide, who remained quiet even despite necessary vehicle changes. We also always had enough time for sightseeing, a coffee and lunch.
This was a nice private car for our day. The driver was mostly a driver, and not a guide. He did explain a few things, but mostly dropped us off at each location for time on our own. If that's what you're looking for, I would recommend. If you want a guided tour, this isn't that. As a note, Cefalu is not a quaint little town; it is very touristy and crowded.
Beautiful views and great fun at the Cefalù beach and pedestrian street. The cathedral at Monreale is also pretty incredible as well as providing a great view of the city of Palermo.
This trip was the best!! Mimmo was an exceptional driver and guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable, and it was a pleasure to learn from him throughout the day. He was considerate, kind, and went above and beyond each step of the way. Our time alone at the stops was fantastic too: the cathedral in Monreale is beautiful, the town and the castello in Castelbuono are surprising and interesting, and the beach and old town in Cefalù are both stunning. Highly recommend this trip!!
Tour guide brought us back to our hotel 2.5 hours early and did not take us to all of the towns we were supposed to see.
A fabulous trip to different locations - a hillside town, a historical beach city - all wonderful Sicilian experiences with friendly Sicilians willing to share with tourists. Cefalu is a true gem.
The best part of the tour was the driver, who was attentive and funny- otherwise this is an overpriced car ride to three spots where you are dropped off to roam around and picked up- the worst part is the organizer who does not communicate any details with you leaving you hoping that the tour will happen on time- unlike other tours we have taken where all details are shared in advance. Regarding the three spots- nothing much in Monreale or Castelbuono- in fact they drop you off in Monreale before anything opens and you are left sitting around waiting for 45 mins. If we had known the nature of this expensive tour, we would have just not done it.
