Palermo Trips & Tours

Sicily’s capital is a study in contrasts. There are crumbling piazzi and gorgeous sunlit courtyards, Norman domes and extravagant Baroque churches, and centuries of Arab, Spanish and Italian influence carved into stone. Much of the architecture is in varying states of disrepair, yet it all adds to the charm and (slightly faded) grandeur. Begin a day of wandering with an espresso and a brioche at a pavement café, before tackling one of the many markets, as much for the people-watching and atmosphere as for the purchasing! In the afternoon, admire the Byzantine mosaics in the Norman Palace and browse Sicilian art at the Palazzo Abatellis art gallery, or visit the nearby town of Monreale and its impressive cathedral. Then, after an aperitivo and a plate of zucchini fritti, spend the evening at the opera at Teatro Massimo, Europe’s third largest opera house, and revel in the delights of this enthralling, confusing town.