Palermo and Monreale Day Trip

Overview

Beginning at the cruise pier of Palermo this tour is a fantastic full day trip through the highlights of Palermo as well as a visit to the Norman town of Monreale. Packed with colour, bustle and also serenity, this tour covers some of the best of what Palermo has to offer. In one day, it is impossible to see everything in Palermo, but your best chance is on this full day excursion with one of our expert Through Eternity guides.

Description

 Beginning in Palermo, nestled on the Tyrrhenian sea and a stop off point for many Mediterranean cruises, this tour also takes in the hilltop town of Monreale just outside the city. Palermo is the largest city in Sicily, a cultural and administrative hub of the island. Awash with beautiful architecture and colorful local life, this tour covers some of the most important sites to be found at this seaside city. Following this you will head just outside the city to Monreale, to visit the UNESCO world heritage listed cathedral. Monreale also possesses beautiful views over the valley known as La Conca d'oro, or the golden shell, one of the most fertile places on Sicily, covered in orange groves and olive trees.

Some highlights of your tour with Through Eternity include:

Palazzo dei Normanni and Cappella Palatina

Our visit begins with Palermo, with its Norman, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The highlight of this visit is the Palazzo dei Normanni. Originally constructed as an Arab palace before the invasion of the Normans, it is now home to the Sicilian parliament. The great Norman adventurers of the 11th and 12th centuries changed Europe, Robert “the fox” de Hauteville and his descendants founded a kingdom that would last all the way up until the unification of Italy in the 19th century. Nowhere is the glory of the Normans better felt than in the Cappella Palatina inside of the Palazzo dei Normanni, with stunning mosaics that dazzle to this day.

Cultural insights and food

Sicily is of course part of Italy, but in a sense it is separate. Not just physically separated from the mainland but also culturally. Fiercely proud, with a unique history, nowhere is like Sicily. An island that could claim to be the most invaded place in history, it is a cliché to use the word melting pot, but if anywhere can claim the title then it is here. As such its long and complicated history is reflected in its art, its language and its food. On your Through Eternity tour you will explore this with your expert guide. Stopping for lunch to sample some Sicilian specialities such as Arancini, Mangia e Bevi or the slightly intimidating Stigghiola.

Monreale and its Cathedral

After exploring the city of Palermo you will head on your private coach up to the town of Monreale nestled above the city. Monreale is home to its UNESCO listed cathedral dedicated to the nativity of the Virgin Mary and begun all the way back in 1174. The legend has it that William II of Sicily fell asleep under a carob tree and was given a vision by the Virgin to build a church on the site. Upon uprooting the tree, some handy gold coins were found in which to begin financing. Regardless of this somewhat doubtful tale, what was created was truly stunning. Golden mosaics and precious stones, marbles and artworks decorate the interior. Louis IX of France, better known as Saint Louis is here. Or more accurately his heart and intestines are in the church (his bones are in France), conveyed here by his brother. The cathedral of Monreale is packed with beauty, history and fascinating stories and your Through Eternity guide will be there to help you navigate it all.

Our Tour

After our visit to Monreale, we will return together to Palermo, to the cruise ship pier. Or if you are staying in the city, we can end in the center of Palermo. It is highly recommended to bring comfortable shoes, some sunscreen (especially in the baking summer months) and plenty of water. All ticketed entrances as well as your guided tour and transport are included in our full day excursion. We look forward to welcoming you and hope you will enjoy exploring this most vibrant of cities with Through Eternity Tours!