Overview
Go on a full day walking tour around the Southern Italian city of Palermo, the capital of Sicily. See the U Capu Market, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Norman Cathedral, the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel, St. John of the Hermits, St. Joseph of the Theatines, the Pretorian Fountain, the San Cataldo Chapel, St. Francis of Assisi, the San Lorenzo Oratory, Mirto Palace, and the Marina Square.
MORNING TOUR
After a short walk from Teatro Massimo, we will enter the heart of the historic market, the U Capu, where history, tradition and street food mix with the voices and faces of the people of Palermo. See the restored baroque beauty, the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
We'll pass through alleys, palaces and ancient legends to reach the Norman Cathedral with the tomb of Frederick II of Swabia and the silver "Vara" of Santa Rosalia. Among the gardens of Villa Bonanno and the ancient ruins of the Paleopolis, see the Royal Palace which houses 3,000 years of Sicilian history and the splendid mosaics of the Palatine Chapel in which the Arabs, Byzantines and Normans shared their knowledge, esoteric secrets, habits and life with great tolerance.
We'll continue walking along the ancient fortifications where we'll see and take a picture of St. John of the Hermits, a beautiful Arab-Norman building with its domes. We will discover the medieval quarters, Spanish facades and courtyards of the historic mansions. We'll walk through "Cassaro", the oldest street of Palermo. The tour will end when we reach the Four Corners (Quattro Canti), also known as "Teatro del Sole" elegant baroque crossroad.
We'll take a break and have some free time for lunch a few steps from the Focaccerie, in old Taverns, with gourmet restaurants and street food.
AFTERNOON TOUR
We meet at The Four Corners (Quattro Canti) and head to the Piazza Bellini where the famous Pretorian Fountain, also called the "Fountain of Shame" is located. The piazza is embellished by the facades of San Cataldo XII of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, the Martorana and Saint Catherine Churches.
We'll walk along the narrow streets of the Corporations of artisans and the Judges who accompanied the accused to death by the Inquisition Court. You will be introduced to the stories of the Leopard, while admiring the terrace of the Palace Gangi, location of the famous film by Luchino Visconti.
We'll soon reach the square decorated by the beautiful Gothic rose window of the church Saint Francis of Assisi. There we will discover the richest and darkest centuries of Sicilian history between the social criticism of the Serpotta's stuccos in the Oratory of San Lorenzo, and the noble furnishings, collections and stables of Palazzo Mirto.
In the shade of the ancient Ficus Magnolioides of Marina Square, we'll have a surprise visit - following in the footsteps of the Holy Inquisition. Our walk ends in the old port district of La Cala where we will get to eat the traditional Sicilian cannoli and gelati.
Palermo