Best of Palermo Tour

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Discover Palermo, the Capital of Sicily: a metropolis with unforgettable architecture, art, and food!

Pick-up at your hotel & tickets included!

Duration

about 4 hours

Tickets included!

Pick up at your hotel

Great photo stops

Professional Guides

Activity level

moderate

Palermo City Center

– Cathedral of Palermo
– Cassaro street
– Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, PIazza Bellini

Mercato del Capo

– Tasting of some local products
– Lively and energetic environment
– Colorful stands

La Martorana

– Unique Architecture
– Golden Mosaics
– Incredible history

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Tour Description

Book our Private Best of Palermo Tour and explore the Capital of Sicily with a professional tour guide!

Palermo is a unique city with a very long history and complex history.

The intricate, fascinating layers of its past merge beautifully, creating a mosaic that will leave you in awe.

To truly capture the spirit of the city, we highly recommend beginning with this guided stroll through the historic center, the city’s vibrant core.

1. Mercato del Capo

The first stop of your Best of Palermo Tour will be the “Mercato del Capo”, one of the oldest and most authentic open-air markets in Sicily.

No place is better than a street market to experience the true identity of a city.

Mercato del Capo makes no exception.

Here, you’ll find an array of products that will tell you the story of Sicily as much as the amazing palaces and churches.

Fruits, vegetables, spices, meat, fish: immerse yourself in the market’s colorful, bustling atmosphere, where the enticing aromas of local street food mix with the lively calls of vendors vying for shoppers’ attention.

2. The Cathedral of Palermo

A few minutes walk from the market, you’ll find the Cathedral, the most impressive church in Palermo.

The Cathedral of Palermo is a key part of the Arab-Norman Palermo route and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located in Palermo’s oldest sacred area, where Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs once built their places of worship, the cathedral was initially a Muslim mosque.

After the Norman conquest, it was converted into a Christian church, then demolished and entirely rebuilt by Archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio in the late 12th century.

Over the centuries, various additions and restorations have blended different architectural styles into a harmonious whole.

The cathedral, richly decorated with marbles and mosaics, hosts several royal and empirical tombs, including those of Roger II, Henry VI of Swabia, Constance of Altavilla, and Emperor Frederick II von Hohenstaufen, all resting in imposing red porphyry sarcophagi.

Noteworthy is the chapel of Santa Rosalia, containing the ashes of Palermo’s patron saint in a silver urn from 1631, central to one of Sicily’s most significant celebrations.

Your private guide will lead you to discover this marvelous church, unfolding its complex and unique history.

3. The Cassaro and other highlights

Then, your Best of Palermo Tour will continue with a walk along the Cassaro, the main street and “spine” of the city.

From there, we’ll proceed to the Quattro Canti, the famous octagonal square where the city’s two major roads intersect.

Your Best of Palermo Tour will end with a visit to the stunning Piazza Pretoria, where you’ll hear the intriguing story of its “Fountain of Shame.”

Nearby, we’ll explore Piazza Bellini, home to the beautiful churches of San Cataldo and La Martorana, showcasing the city’s Arab-Norman and Baroque influences.

Take advantage of our local, private guides and let them reveal you the secrets of Palermo.

IMPORTANT INFO!

Pick-up at your hotel is included only if your hotel is in in Palermo City Center.

If you’re staying somewhere else, let us know and we’ll find the best solution for you.

You MUST bring an ID, a passport or a driver’s license to enter the sights.

Pricing

549 € for 1 person
39 € per additional person

What's included

Skip-the-line tickets

Transportation

by cab to Neapolis or Ortygia

Pick-up at your hotel

If in Ortygia

Book now!

through the booking calendar

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We were amazed by the service we received in Rome and even in Benevento. Giovanni went above and beyond to organize tours and transportation for our family of 15 traveling. Massimo was an incredible and knowledgeable tour guide in Rome. He made it fun for the kids and knew when to take a break. Provided water and an amazing lunch spot for us all. We still are talking about some of the stories he told us. Stefano met us at the train in Benevento and was only supposed to drive us through San Bartolomeo, my father's hometown. But he pulled up my father's and grandfather's genealogy and found some interesting facts that were amazing to find out. He printed and laminated it for us to take. It was an emotional day but such a wonderful part of the trip. The minibus was perfect for everyone to fit comfortably and head over to Almafi. Thank you Giovanni and your amazing staff for making this trip one of the most memorable trips ever!!!

Giovanni was so exceptional at his job that you left the trip feeling torn between wanting to tell the World and also keeping him a best kept secret. Everything that he had orchestrated happened, seamlessly for us as if he had choreographed the entire country of Italy to show up, act, behave on queue. I put together a lot of trips, all over the world, for a group of around 20 friends each adventure. As the chief coordinator, you are always a little concerned about third party tours and tour guides: will everyone show up, is this a scam, can they speak English? Giovanni had infinite patience answering my questions and provided so much detail about our adventure, that everyone knew what to expect ahead of time. He took into consideration everyone’s interest, abilities and aptitudes. We saw a side of Italy that felt intimate and entertaining. There are not enough stars in the galaxy to award him.

What a great experience for me and my family to have these private tours planned by Giovanni. We wanted a curated set of events during our time in Rome and Florence and Gio delivered such a wonderful set of activities to suit my husband and I and our two teenagers. Each of the four days was a memorable experience. Alex was so fantastic and I would recommend him highly- we had one our best meals with him just learning from him and having great conversation. Andres in Florence was a blast and incredibly connected to the history of the area, just a wealth of information so much so that we are definitely coming back to Florence to spend more time. Caterina walked us through the Roman ruins and the Colosseum which was awe inspiring. And, one of the best things we did which I highly recommend is a pasta making class with Romina. We learned to make two dishes with her and then ate the food we had prepared. Such a great way to spend our time connecting to Roma. Thank you Gio and to all our guides! We will cherish our memories made together.

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I highly recommend Italian ArtVentures. We decided to use a private tour company, rather than the cruise ship excursions, and we were not disappointed. Giovanni was excellent at planning. We booked a tour in Rome and Pompeii. Giovanni was able to customize a tour that was special to us, so we could visit the LDS temple. Maria was our guide at the Vatican. She was fun, smart, and thoughtful. She translated for us as needed and was able to answer all of our questions. One major bonus of having a tour guide is skipping the line for St. Peter's Basilica. Our driver was awesome, traveling quickly and safely. The van was new, clean, and comfortable. We asked for a restaurant recommendation, and Giovanni made us reservations for Amalfi. It was incredible. The next day, we went to Pompeii with Stefano. He was fantastic. He made sure we saw the highlights and we avoided the crowds because of his expertise in the area. Booking was simple, communication was excellent, the cost was well worth what you get. This company is very professional. Totally awesome experience!

Truly outstanding experience visiting the Vatican with Maria! She was the perfect guide - knowledgable, smart, funny, passionate about the subject matter. She had a deep knowledge of the art, architecture, history, and the religious significance of the whole area, and gave us thoughtful, interesting commentary throughout our tour. Although she seemed to have a bottomless knowledge of everything, she also knew how to present the information in a way that was considered, insightful, and crucially, not too overwhelming for us. As we walked, she called attention to many things, some big, others details that could easily be missed. She was well prepared, but also brilliant at answering questions and flexible about following our interests. Several times she pointed out a small detail, then drew a connection back to it later in the tour. She knew the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, courtyard and Basilica like the back of her hand, steering us to less crowded routes and perfect viewing vantages. One of us is Catholic, and one of us loves art, and Maria brilliantly held both our interests throughout the tour. Highly Recommend!