Overview
You will be guided by the best to see the best part of the city and surroundings.
Sicily is mysterious and has plenty of secrets. If you are strong minded, you may want to see the Catacombs. Let your guide know right away. Been there and done that so please do not take your children!
Palermo is the capital and the most important city of all Sicily. It is located between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Conca D'Oro Mountains, and both keep this weather breezy and beautiful.
Your guide will direct you first to the Medieval part of Palermo where you will view the Baroque architecture as well as buildings from the Arabian-Norman period. The city is very distinct and Sicily itself has a history of mystery and a dark side which is intriguing. It will most likely deliver beyond your expectations and the million or more inhabitants will help to accomplish that feat. Wide avenues greet you and transmit a feeling of relaxed splendor.
In 2015, Arab-Norman Palermo and its neighbouring cathedrals were granted status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spread over a huge span of land, this UNESCO site includes nine monuments - the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel, the Zisa Palace, Palermo Cathedral, the Palermitan Churches of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio and San Cataldo, the Admiral’s Bridge, and the cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalù - the site provides, in UNESCO's words, 'an outstanding example of a socio-cultural syncretism between Western, Islamic, and Byzantine cultures'. You will see as much of the highlights as your time allows as it is imperative that you visit the market, which is so traditional it is unlike most in Europe.
The faded grandeur of many of Palermo’s wonderful palaces and churches in the centre gives way to popular areas whose way of life doesn’t fully belong to the 21st Century. This is particularly true of the markets, whose Arabic origins are still evident today thanks to their noise, smells, colours, narrow labyrinthine streets, the splendid array of food and other goods on display and the general ‘souk’ atmosphere. This picturesque marketplace will give you the Sicilian experience of smelling, seeing and tasting the colorful local life that is still authentic. From street food to old traditional cuisine, you will see that not all markets are equal and this one in particular is a special experience.
Enjoy before heading back to your starting point.
- Food, beverages, gratuities are not included in this price.
- Palermo's city center is a pedestrian area. Your guide will be with you during the walking portion.
- If you wish, you may revert to stops at Cappella Palatina, Palazzo dei Normanni, Zisa Castle, or the Catacombs of Cappuccin instead of other sites listed above. Please discuss this with your guide.
- As this is partially a walking tour, dress comfortably with proper shoes for uneven surfaces.
- Admissions are not included in the tour.
Days offered: 7 days a week
Departures:- 09:00 AM, duration: 4 hours
