Monreale, Palermo, Chinese Palace and Mondello from Palermo, Private Tour

Monreale, Palermo, Chinese Palace and Mondello from Palermo, Private Tour

By Panormus Autoservizi

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Overview

Discover the historical monuments of Palermo and Monreale on a private day tour. The English speaking driver will take you around to see the most beautiful places, including the Teatro Massimo, the Royal Palace, the Palatine Chapel, the Piazza dei Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, Chiesa del Gesù (Casa Professa), one of the the most important Baroque churches of Palermo, the historic Markets: Ballaró, Il Capo and other historic buildings.
The tour includes a panoramic tour of the whole city.
Take in the view of Palermo from above and visit the famous cathedral that Monreale is renowned for.
Admire the Palazzina or Chinese House, known for the Chinese style that distinguishes it and which is located within the Parco della Favorita.
Visit the well-known seaside resort of Mondello, one of the most beautiful, famous and renowned tourist and seaside resorts in Sicily.
The tour can be tailored to your interests.

Activity location

Cattedrale di Monreale
- 1 Piazza Guglielmo II
- 90046, Monreale, Sicilia, Italy

Meeting/Redemption Point

Cattedrale di Monreale
- 1 Piazza Guglielmo II
- 90046, Monreale, Sicilia, Italy

Check availability

Sorry this activity isn't available on Sat, 4 May

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What's included, what's not

Private transportation
WiFi on board
Bottled water
Pick-up service from / to hotel / port
Bilingual Italian-English driver
Child seats (on request)
Tourist guide
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Gratuities

Know before you book

Specialized infant seats are available
Service animals allowed
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wheelchair accessible

Activity itinerary

Cattedrale di Monreale

1h 30m
Admission ticket not included

You will be dropped off by your driver in Piazza Guglielmo II. Here you can visit the beautiful cathedral of Monreale. It has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is considered one of the most important medieval churches in the world. The mosaics of the cathedral are something simply unique and perfect. An area of over 6,000 square meters and over 130 Byzantine mosaics that adorn the church. You can also access, for a fee, to different areas of the cathedral, such as the terraces. Adjacent to the cathedral is the monastery of San Benedetto. The cloister of the monastery is square in Romanesque style, characterized by more than 90 columns decorated with mosaics and Romanesque capitals. At the center of the cloister there is a garden, with a palm-shaped fountain from whose leaves water flows. Also near the cathedral is the interesting Diocesan Museum, where collections of paintings, sacred vestments and liturgical objects are housed, as well as a beautiful cycle of 1700 frescoes. From Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II you can see the Duomo, while you can calmly admire the garden with the famous marble fountain called Fontana del Tritone. Another place that is impossible to resist is the Belvedere, located a few steps from the Palazzo del Municipio. From the Belvedere you can look out over the Conca d'Oro and let yourself be conquered by the Palermo hills.

Norman Palace

1h
Admission ticket not included

We will pass through the Royal Palace, through Porta Nuova and Villa Bonanno. Among the most visited buildings in all of Sicily, the Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo is the oldest royal residence in Europe, today the seat of the Sicilian regional assembly. Inside there are several courtyards, including the Cortile Maqueda, and the Cortile della Fontana. The patio leads to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, while on the first level there is the Palatine Chapel. There are many works of art contained in the Palazzo, with masterpieces from the 19th and 20th centuries by Francesco Lojacono, Antonino Leto, Joan Mirò and Renato Guttuso.

Palermo Cathedral

The Cathedral of Palermo, the most characteristic building in the city. Its construction dates back to 1184 by the will of Archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed into heaven. Since 3 July 2015 it is part of the World Heritage Site (Unesco). The main entrance of the Cathedral is free, but if you want to visit the monumental area and the roofs of the Cathedral of Palermo, from which you can appreciate a wonderful and suggestive view of the city, you have to pay a ticket.

Mercato del Capo

The Mercato del Capo in Palermo is still located in the upper part of the ancient Arab quarter of Schiavoni, pirates and slave traders. A very popular neighborhood, it was formed in the Muslim age and is nestled between baroque churches and iconic street food. The main entrance to the market is given by the fourteenth-century Porta Carini. A narrow street widens and narrows between the stalls that project from the outside, people make it impractical because it stops to observe, negotiate, taste and buy. It is also the perfect place to find culinary souvenirs, typical vacuum products such as dried tomatoes, lupines and also capers, spices and anchovies in oil, sardines in salt. It is also considered the fish market par excellence. Bright colors and inebriating perfumes mix with typical specialties and the voices of the traders, the "abbanniate" inviting to buy their goods. that of the less popular Capo, is considered the fish market par excellence. This is why the market is a place not to be missed.

Via Roma (Pass by)

From the Capo Market we go down to Piazza Verdi in front of the Massimo Theater. Follow Via Roma which cuts Piazza San Domenico where the church of the same name is located. Over the years many buildings have been built on the sides of the street, including the headquarters of some banks, the Palazzo delle Poste, the Biondo theater, the Palazzo del Banco di Sicilia and other very numerous buildings built in the Eclectic or Liberty style. At the intersection with Corso Vittorio Emanuele we go up to reach the Quattro Canti.

Quattro Canti

You will be left in Piazza Pretoria, where you will visit the main churches, including the La Martorana church, San Cataldo church, San Giuseppe dei Teatini church, the Fontana della Vergogna and the four corners. Continue with the Chiesa del Gesù (Casa Professa), one of the most important baroque churches in Palermo, towards the historic market of Ballarò.

Ballarò Medievale

With over 1000 years of history, the Ballarò market is one of the oldest testimonies still existing in Palermo. It rises in the hugely popular district of Albergheria and over the years has been able to develop, while always maintaining its unmistakable style. Among the stalls and small shops of the Ballarò you can buy meat, fresh fish, fruit and vegetables at km 0, coming directly from the Palermo countryside, and still cheeses, typical products, sweets. In addition to the classic stalls, there are many places where you can sit and eat typical dishes with very affordable prices. Ballarò is also famous for many prestigious monuments that are located inside, such as the Tower of S. Nicolò which allows you to have a 360 ° panoramic view of Palermo, the Church of Carmine Maggiore and the Chamber of Wonders

Via Ruggiero Settimo (Pass by)

We go beyond the Quattro Canti and reach Via Ruggero Settimo which takes us to Piazza Castelnuovo. Together with the adjacent Piazza Ruggero Settimo it forms a single large space, commonly called "Piazza Politeama", from the homonymous theater that dominates the square. Then there is the Viale della Libertà surrounded by villas and gardens, including the English Garden.

Via della Favorita (Pass by)

The Via della Favorita goes from the General Cascino square to the east gate of the Parco della Favorita. The large park of the Favorita, whose extension amounts to about 400 hectares, was built by Ferdinando di Borbone during his first stay in Palermo, from 1798 to 1802.

Palazzina Cinese

30m
Admission ticket not included

On Christmas 1798, fleeing from the turmoil of Naples, the royal couple Ferdinando di Borbone and Carolina landed in Palermo, welcomed by the Palermo nobility. The king, lover of hunting, bought a good part of the land located in the Colli plain from the noble Palermitans of the time, to build a reserve where to give vent to his passion. As his personal home, the king also purchased the "casena" of Giuseppe Lombardo, baron of La Scala, which was subsequently renovated and embellished by the architect Venanzio Marvuglia. This casena, given its obvious inspiration to oriental themes, was later called Casina or Palazzina Cinese, and hosted numerous illustrious guests, including Admiral Nelson and Lady Hamilton. VISITING HOURS From Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 to 17.30 (last entry at 17.00); holidays from 9.00 to 13.30 (last entry at 13.00) - closed on Mondays.

Mondello

The Gulf of Mondello is one of the most extraordinary places on the island, at the foot of Monte Pellegrino. Mondello's atmosphere seems almost tropical thanks to its colors. Full of services, restaurants, small shops, nautical clubs and a small port. This area is full of villas, all in Liberty style.

Location

Activity location

Cattedrale di Monreale
- 1 Piazza Guglielmo II
- 90046, Monreale, Sicilia, Italy

Meeting/Redemption Point

Cattedrale di Monreale
- 1 Piazza Guglielmo II
- 90046, Monreale, Sicilia, Italy

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