Exclusive guided tour of Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina in Palermo
Sicily

Exclusive guided tour of Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina in Palermo

1 h
min 30
Walking Tours
Group
difficulty Very easy
Walking
Wheelchair Not Accessible
Languages: 
English

Recorrido guiado al Palacio Normando y a la Capilla Palatina con un experto en historia y arte

Marvel for two of the most stunning historical buildings of the Sicilian capital with this guided tour! Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina await you in Palermo if you’re thirsty not only for history, but for art too.

Guided tour of the wonders of Palermo: of the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel highlights: 

  • Visit one of the most attractive historical places in Palermo
  • Go along the cultural journey with a qualified Sicilian guide
  • Discover how the Islamic and Norman art and culture bond together at the oldest Royal residence in Europe
  • Exclusive entrance into the palace and its gardens
  • Come to the Palatine Chapel and learn about the Middle Eastern Culture
  • Travel around the magical historic center of Palermo

Guided tour of the wonders of Palermo: of the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel

Palazzo dei Normanni and its Palatine Chapel offer a unique window into the past with its 800 years of history, allowing an overview of one of the most atypical, but stunning cultural mixes that exist. 
 

AN UNFORGETTABLE TOUR IN A SYMBOLIC LANDMARK OF PALERMO

 
Get ready to discover priceless treasures with an expert and authorized guide
Sure enough, Palermo is the perfect example of how the history of different cultures and populations enriches the artistic patrimony of a city. The Islamic and Norman customs have characterized the most ancient Royal Residence in Europe singularly and magnificently, giving birth to a place where contrasting artistic worlds live together. During this guided tour in Palermo  you’ll get the chance to learn not only about the historical and cultural aspects of this magical place, but also about the secrets behind the dynasties who had their thrones and lived there for centuries. On this visit you’ll never walk alone, rather, you'll be carried by one of our expert and local guides
 

ENTER IN THE OLDEST ROYAL PALACE OF EUROPE

 
With this Palermo guided tour you’ll discover Palazzo dei Normanni which is now the location of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, the Sicilian Parliament, but the value of this place can’t be considered only on its actual role. As the oldest Royal Residence, it has an immeasurable value and there’s no wonder why: it has welcomed different ethnicities, it has been the theater of countless policies, and it has seen countless dynasties follow one anothe. That’s what made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and that’s why you can’t miss it! As a first step you’ll enter the ground floor where you’ll be guided into the ancient origins of the place, where the Greek-Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Norman world meet. 

ADMIRE ONE OF THE MASTERPIECES OF THE SICILIAN CAPITAL

 
Go upstairs and get amazed by the artistic treasures that the Palatine Chapel shows you. Guy de Maupassant, a French lyricist who lived in the XIX century, defined the Chapel as the most beautiful religious jewel dreamt of by human thought, surely for good reasons. The beauty of this place is unleashed everywhere, starting from the mosaics representing Bible scenes, going through the wooden ceilings carved by highly talented masters of the Fatimid and Iranian schools, and arriving at the majestic throne. And that’s not it, because being erected approximately one century after the rest of the palace, the Chapel gives an insight into the arts, science, and philosophy of the dominant Western and Middle Eastern cultures at that time. 
If this guided tour of Palermo has enchanted you, there’s no doubt you’ll surely want to continue wandering around the city, spending the rest of the day discovering the historic center on your own.