Norman Arab Palermo

In 2015, UNESCO included the Arab-Norman Palermo itinerary in the World Heritage List. This tour offers a visit to the monuments that are part of it, built during the Norman Kingdom in Sicily, representing the cultural blend of that era. Arab architecture merges with Byzantine iconography, creating the unique Sicilian-Norman style. We will move among elegant inlays of lava stone on golden calcarenite, delicate chiaroscuro effects, exotic red domes, and sparkling mosaics that depict Heaven and Earth.

TOUR PROGRAM - A FULL DAY DISCOVERING UNESCO SITES

1st STOP - COMPLEX OF S. GIOVANNI DEGLI EREMITI

A unique place where Arab-Norman architecture blends with the nature of the Mediterranean scrub. The religious complex, founded around 1134 by King Roger II, hides pre-existing structures, mysterious frescoes, and a surprising Benedictine cloister.

2nd STOP - ROYAL PALACE

The Royal Palace, now home to the Sicilian Parliament, stands majestically on one of the oldest areas of the city. On two floors, illuminated by light filtering through the courtyards, are the royal rooms and the Palatine Chapel, founded in 1143 by the Norman King Roger II, covered with mosaics and marbles, and crowned by a wooden ceiling of Arab taste.

3rd STOP - PALERMO CATHEDRAL

Located on the ashes of an ancient mosque, the Cathedral enchants at first glance with its splendid façade, an expression of Arab-Norman architecture with Gothic-Catalan elements. The interior, modified in the late eighteenth century, houses beautiful chapels, superb royal tombs, and a rich treasury.

4th STOP - ZISA CASTLE

One of the most interesting architectural works of the Arab-Norman panorama in Palermo. Built as a royal residence, once surrounded by lush greenery, artificial lakes, hunting pavilions, and fish ponds. Today the castle is a museum of Arab art, perfect for imagining and recounting the most relaxing moments of Norman royal life.

5th STOP - CATHEDRAL AND BENEDICTINE CLOISTER OF MONREALE

Located in the historic heart of Monreale, a few kilometers from Palermo, the cathedral was founded in 1172 by the Norman King William II, perhaps inspired by a particular dream. Its walls, covered with over 6,000 square meters of mosaics, depict the Old and New Testaments among saints, holy women, and angels.