History · Palermo · Italy
8 historic sites to see in Palermo
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Julian Lupyan, CC0
Quick answer
Start with Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel, Palermo Cathedral and Monreale Cathedral and Cloister. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 9–10 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 9–10 hours
- Areas
- Albergheria and Ballarò, Il Capo and the Cathedral and Monreale
Historic sites in Palermo
Palace · Albergheria and Ballarò
1.Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel
The visit can also include the royal apartments and the mosaic-covered Sala di Re Ruggero when the assembly is not in use.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Il Capo and the Cathedral
2.Palermo Cathedral
Inside are the porphyry tombs of Emperor Frederick II and the Norman king Roger II, a treasury with the jewelled crown of Constance of Aragon and a chapel of Santa Rosalia; a separate ticket opens the roof terraces.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Religious site · Monreale
3.Monreale Cathedral and Cloister
The adjoining Benedictine cloister has more than 200 paired columns, many inlaid with mosaic and topped by carved capitals, and a rooftop walk looks over the Conca d'Oro valley to the sea.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Landmark · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
4.Quattro Canti
Each of the four curved facades, built in the early 17th century, rises in tiers with a fountain, a statue of one of the seasons, a Spanish king and the patron saint of that quarter.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
Landmark · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
5.Fontana Pretoria
Its many nude statues earned it the nickname 'Fountain of Shame' from scandalised churchgoers.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
6.La Martorana and San Cataldo
Next door, the small, bare church of San Cataldo is topped by three red domes that recall Arab architecture.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · Cappuccini
7.Capuchin Catacombs
The best known is Rosalia Lombardo, a two-year-old girl embalmed in 1920 and still remarkably preserved.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
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Religious site · Albergheria and Ballarò
8.San Giovanni degli Eremiti
The bare interior matters less than the small cloister and garden, one of the most peaceful spots in central Palermo.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Albergheria and Ballarò | Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel and San Giovanni degli Eremiti | 2 hours + 30–45 minutes |
| Il Capo and the Cathedral | Palermo Cathedral | 1–1.5 hours |
| Monreale | Monreale Cathedral and Cloister | Half a day |
| Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti | Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria and La Martorana and San Cataldo | 15 minutes + 20 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Cappuccini | Capuchin Catacombs | 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 5 low cost, 1 mid-priced. Book ahead for Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel. The longest visit is Monreale Cathedral and Cloister; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel: Queues can be long in high season; buy a timed ticket online before you go.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Albergheria and Ballarò and Il Capo and the Cathedral): Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel → San Giovanni degli Eremiti → Palermo Cathedral, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Monreale and Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti): Monreale Cathedral and Cloister → Quattro Canti → Fontana Pretoria, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti and Cappuccini): La Martorana and San Cataldo → Capuchin Catacombs, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still mild, with almond blossom in the countryside and low prices.
- November: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild with more frequent rain; marzipan fruit fills pastry-shop windows for the Day of the Dead.
- January: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild and often sunny between storms; a good month for museums and markets without crowds.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Albergheria and Ballarò — The oldest market district, between the Norman Palace and the station
- Il Capo and the Cathedral — Market lanes around the Capo market behind the cathedral
- Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti — The pedestrian spine of the old town, from the Quattro Canti to the Teatro Massimo
More of Palermo
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Palermo?
Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel. The Norman kings' palace, today the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, holds the Cappella Palatina, consecrated in 1140, where gold Byzantine mosaics cover the walls and a wooden muqarnas ceiling made by Arab craftsmen is painted with scenes of court life.
+Which of these are free in Palermo?
Quattro Canti and Fontana Pretoria.