Palermo Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palermo) Tours

Over the centuries, Sicily was ruled by successive waves of conquerors, each one leaving their mark on the island’s architecture, culture, and cuisine. A perfect example of this blend of cultures is the Palermo Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palermo), a fascinating patchwork of Norman, Arabic, Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architectural styles.
The Basics
The Palermo Cathedral (also called Santa Maria Assunta or simply the Duomo) was begun in the late 12th century under Norman rule, and was expanded and renovated over the subsequent six centuries. Today, the imposing church is a striking mix of architectural elements, making it one of the most unique in Italy. The interior contains tombs of several members of the Sicilian royal family; the treasury’s collection of religious art, objects, and vestments; and the crypt with sarcophagi from the Roman era.
Because of its rich history and complex architecture, the Palermo Cathedral is best visited with a guide as part of a small-group or private tour. Most walking tours of the historic center of Palermo include a visit to the Cathedral along with other attractions like the Royal Palace and the Massimo Theater. Otherwise, you can join a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and explore the church and other sights independently.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Walking tours of Palermo largely take place outdoors, so wear sunscreen and a hat in summer.
- You will be doing a fair amount of walking if you’re joining a tour of the historic center, so wear comfortable footwear.
- The Palermo Cathedral requires modest attire that covers the knees and shoulders.
- The main part of the church is accessible to wheelchair users; however, the crypt isn’t.
How to Get There
The Palermo Cathedral is located in the city’s historic center within walking distance from the port and train station. You can reach Sicily from mainland Italy by ferry, train, or plane.
When to Get There
Sicily can be uncomfortably hot in summer, so try to visit the island in spring or fall. The second week of July, the city holds its annual U Fistinu festival, featuring processions, fireworks, street food, and music.
The Crown Jewels
The highlight the Palermo Cathedral is the 13th-century crown of Queen Constance of Aragon, crowned Queen of Sicily in 1209 and Holy Roman Empress in 1212. The crown was entombed with Constance’s body in 1222; in the 18th century, the tomb was opened and the crown was removed so it could be displayed in the treasury.
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo, Sicily 90040, Italy
20 Tours and Activities to Experience Palermo Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palermo)
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Palermo Walking Tour and Street Food
Indulge all your senses on a walking tour of Palermo's rich street food traditions. Join a knowledgeable guide for a walk through the historic part of the city and its vibrant outdoor markets. Sample some of Palermo's unique street foods, such as 'panelle' and 'meusa.' Watch the lively scenes all around you, observing what seems like another time.
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From
$44.25
Price varies by group size
From
$44.25
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Discover Palermo
Walking tour in the heart of the city of Palermo, discovering historical markets, churches and squares. A journey through the history and culture of a unique city in the world.
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From
$36.71
From
$36.71

Last minute Palermo Walking Tour and Street Food
Sicily has lain at a crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years—and its food is a delicious reflection of the island’s diverse cultural mix. On this morning tour of Palermo’s street food markets, get off the typical tourist trail and follow in locals’ footsteps. You’ll visit three of the city’s key markets—Capo, Ballarò, and La Vucciria—will enjoy numerous samples, and learn more about Sicily’s history from your guide.
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From
$49.16
From
$49.16
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Palermo and Monreale Tour
Spend a day exploring the best of Palermo and the glories of Monreale with this combination day trip. See the top attractions in the old town of the Sicilian capital of Palermo, including the Teatro Massimo, Cathedral, and Politeama Theater. Next, travel up to the hilltop town of Monreale to tour the famous Duomo. Marvel at the golden mosaics covering the Duomo's interior.
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From
$66.44
From
$66.44

Full Day City Tour in Palermo , Monreale and Mondello, from Palermo
Maximize your time in Palermo with this sightseeing tour, which showcases the best of the city and the surrounding region. Visit the hillside town of Monreale, known for its Norman cathedral and 12th-century mosaics, and explore Palermo’s historic center. Enjoy beach time at the seaside resort of Mondello and venture up Monte Pellegrino to view the 17th-century Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia cave shrine.
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From
$245.81
Price varies by group size
From
$245.81
Price varies by group size
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

Palermo City private Tour from Palermo - Sicily
Famous throughout the world, Palermo is the regional capital of Sicily and the fifth largest city in Italy by population. On the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located between Monte Pellegrino and the bay of Conca d’Oro, in the western part of Sicily. City of a thousand faces, loud but elegant, eclectic and never dull, Palermo with its architectural beauty, its traditions and its people attracts and enchants thousands of visitors from all over the world.Today Palermo still contains architectural finds of rare beauty, a tangible sign of the importance that the city has taken over the centuries.
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From
$712.85
Price varies by group size
From
$712.85
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

Western Sicily Tour 4 days from Palermo - Sicily Tours
Tour of western Sicily to admire the beauties of Sicily beaches, archaeological sites, monuments and the Arab-Norman UNESCO heritage itinerary
Tour included hostess escort in Italian or English for the duration of the tour departing from Palermo center or Palermo Airport Punta Raisi Falcone Borsellino
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From
$1,216.77
Price varies by group size
From
$1,216.77
Price varies by group size

Private Tour Unusual Sicily 3 days
3-day western Sicily minitour to explore an alternative Sicily with new routes
Tour included hostess escort in Italian or English
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From
$859.11
Price varies by group size
From
$859.11
Price varies by group size

Palermo city half day tour
The tour was organized to admire the beauties of the historic center of Palermo with its marvelous Cathedral, Castello della Zisa and the renowned Capuchin Catacombs.
Finally stop at Porta Carbone with street food tasting (Panelle, Crocchè Panino con Milza)
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From
$153.63
Price varies by group size
From
$153.63
Price varies by group size

Tour Palermo & Monreale from Punta Raisi Airport
The tour was organized to admire the beauty of the Arab Norman itinerary of Palermo and its markets and historic alleys (Cathedral, Palatine Chapel, Piazza Pretoria, Quattro Canti, Martorana Church, Teatro Massimo, Mercato Ballaro '), visit of Monreale with its extraordinary Duomo and finally stop in the wonderful seaside resort of Mondello with its famous beach and Liberty style villas
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From
$245.81
Price varies by group size
From
$245.81
Price varies by group size

Monte Pellegrino & Palermo city tour
A splendid tour to learn about the religious traditions of Palermo
of the cult of the Saint most loved by the people of Palermo, Santa Rosalia, better known by the Palermitans as the "Santuzza". The Wonderful Sanctuary located on Monte Pellegrino, defined by Goethe as the most beautiful promontory in the world. continuation with visit of the historical center of Palermo
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From
$159.78
Price varies by group size
From
$159.78
Price varies by group size

Full day tour of Palermo, Monreale and Mondello
The tour was organized to admire the beauty of the Arab Norman itinerary of Palermo and its markets and historic alleys (Cathedral, Palatine Chapel, Piazza Pretoria, Quattro Canti, Martorana Church, Teatro Massimo, Mercato Ballaro '), visit of Monreale with its extraordinary Duomo and finally stop in the wonderful seaside resort of Mondello with its famous beach and Liberty style villas
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From
$190.50
Price varies by group size
From
$190.50
Price varies by group size

Private tour Palermo and Monreale
A fascinating tour that will allow you to admire artistic masterpieces of rare beauty. We will go up to Monreale, by car or minivan, to visit the Cathedral of Monreale, a UNESCO site, with its splendid Byzantine mosaics that extend over an area of 6000 square meters. Then we will move to Palermo to admire another UNESCO site: the Palazzo dei Normanni, an Arab-Norman jewel embellished by the beautiful Palatine Chapel, the Capuchin catacombs and the historic Cape market.
Read more about Tour Palermo and Monreale 2019 - Sicily
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From
$368.72
per group
From
$368.72
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Palermo and Monreale
Hotel pick up. Half day reserved for the visit of the Norman Palace (where inside you can visit the wonderful Palatine Chapel). Free time to visit the Cathedral of Palermo, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Proceed in the direction of Monreale, to visit the Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful churches in the world (where inside you can admire its magnificent mosaics, the very famous Christ Pantocrator and its imposing monumental pipe organ. Free time for the visit to the cloister and the gardens of the municipal Villa.
I'm going back to the hotel. End of our services.
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From
$199.32
per group
From
$199.32
per group

3-Days Tour to discover Western Sicily: Culture, Colors & Flavors, from Palermo
This tour aims to offer a complete experience for both your eyes and your palate. You will visit some of the most beautiful places, cities, villages in Western Sicily: rich in history, culture and art. Palermo, Monreale, Mondello, Erice, Segesta, Trapani, Cefalù, Castelbuono, The Saline with Their different colors. You will taste the typical Cannoli, the Marsala, the Almond sweets in Erice, the cheeses and the artisanal Salami in Castelbuono, the street food in Palermo, fish dishes in Trapani and the foods that made us famous in the world.
This is a private and exclusive tour, you will only be in the group, there will be no other people. We will be out of the normal tourist circuits, we will visit isolated, peaceful and safe places.
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From
$862.80
$95.86 savings
Price varies by group size
From
$862.80
$95.86 savings
Price varies by group size
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

Best of Palermo shore excursion: Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù private tour
When your cruise ship docks in Palermo, maximize your day at port on a private shore excursion that shows you the best of Sicily with none of the hassle. After exploring the markets and monuments of Palermo, venture uphill to the Byzantine Monastery of Monreale, known for its dazzling golden mosaics. Finish with a visit to the medieval coastal town of Cefalù, perched above the Tyrrhenian Sea
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From
$240.83
Price varies by group size
From
$240.83
Price varies by group size

Tour of Sicily from Palermo to Taormina, individual group 8 days
Our driver will meet you at the airport the first day of your arrival in Sicily and for the hotel.
Sicily exquisite art treasures, historical sites, natural beauties, and charm... all made easy for you in the luxurious comfort of a private car, van.
Our love of our native land inspires us to offer you access to all parts of Sicily, using a high-quality limousine and deluxe van and our well-trained, experienced drivers.We are prepared to meet all of your travel requirements.. Our staff is able to satisfy every request with professionalism and courtesy. As a company passionate about delivering quality services, customer satisfaction, and an acute eye to detail, we are proud of our 22-year success story.
Sightseeing with one of our vehicles is an unforgettable experience.
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From
$2,003.36
Price varies by group size
From
$2,003.36
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Sicily tour from Palermo to Taormina, 6 days, individual group
Private tour of Sicily with personal driver for 7 days for visit of the Palermo, Cefalù, Taormina, Syracuse and Etna vulcan with wine tour in winery with lunch and wine tasting Etna wine.
This excursion is customised using a driver. A driver is a chauffeur specialized in driving you around, he is able to provide basic historical information, he can show you the main highlights, is knowledgeable and he has an umbrella of information. The driver will take care to give adequate time at all stops and to accommodate special requests when possible, to ensure that your experience in Sicily will be both memorable and enjoyable. The driver is not a Licensed Tour Guide and cannot take you inside monuments. In case you need a Licensed Local Guide you must pay a surcharge and we will arrange for Licensed Guide to meet you directly on the spot.
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From
$1,229.06
Price varies by group size
From
$1,229.06
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Take a private Chef
Enjoy the experience with your personal chef in your house. Taste the best local ingredients, prepared through the high cookery knowledge of a professional chef, Giuliana, gradued at the Italian cookey school, experienced in traditional cuisine, with a modern influence and an italian as well.
During the preparation of the meal, guests can follow all the steps. Everything will be set and brought by the chef, apart plates and cutlery.
The menu is based on 4 dishes: apetizer, fisrt and second dish, sweet. Usalllybased on seasonal organic ingredients, and mostly fish. Different menu, or in case of any food allergies, please inform us before.
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From
$262.21
From
$262.21

PALERMO and its GARDENS and a COOKING Class
Explorine one of Palermo’s historic markets
Purchase all the ingredients necessary to prepare your meal with our chef.
Taste some of Palermo’s typical street food
Enjoy a hands-on cooking class followed by lunch.
Visit Villa Malfitano, Palermo with the Cathedral, Quattro Canti square, etc. Walk through the streets of the historical center and the Botanic garden of Villa giulia .
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From
$624.50
Price varies by group size
From
$624.50
Price varies by group size
Things to do near Palermo
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