Palermo Half Day Excursion

Overview

Discover Palermo’s richly layered past on this half-day walking tour through Sicily’s vibrant capital. With an expert guide, explore a city shaped by centuries of conquest and creativity - where Arab domes, Norman palaces, and bustling markets sit side by side in a flamboyant mosaic. Step inside the glittering Palatine Chapel, marvel at the spectacular Cathedral, and sample legendary street food along the way. From royal tombs to mouthwatering arancine, this is Palermo at its most authentic and unforgettable.

Description

Palermo: A City Like No Other

Welcome to Palermo, Sicily’s dynamic capital and one of the most richly layered cities in the Mediterranean.  Palermo defies easy definition. It’s gritty and grand, chaotic and awe-inspiring - a city where Romanesque churches sit beside Arab domes, and Byzantine mosaics glitter just steps from bustling street markets. On this half-day tour, we’ll dive into the layered history of Palermo, a city shaped by conquest, creativity, and an unbreakable spirit.

 

Explore Palazzo dei Normanni and Cappella Palatina

 

On the highest hill in the town stands an extraordinary building. Originally constructed as an Arab palace before the invasion of the Normans, it is now home to the Sicilian parliament. The great Norman adventurers of the 11th and 12th centuries changed Europe and their legacy is as strongly felt in Sicily as anywhere. Robert “the fox” de Hauteville and his descendants founded a kingdom that would last all the way up until the unification of Italy in the 19th century. Nowhere is the glory of the Normans better felt than in the Cappella Palatina, with stunning mosaics that dazzle to this day.

 

Visit the Palermo Cathedral

 

The Cathedral of Palermo, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, serves as a microcosm of Palermo’s rich history. Numerous different styles proliferate from Norman to Neoclassical. There are no clean lines in history, and this building is a textbook example of this, the influence left and felt by different architectural styles through the centuries. Its famous portico leads into a treasure trove of art through the centuries and a burial place for kings, queens, and emperors. Keep an eye out for the heliometer, a type of astronomical measure projecting the summer and winter solstices on the floor of the Cathedral.

Explore this and more with your expert Through Eternity guide on our tour of Palermo!

 

Markets, Flavor, and Street Life

 

Beyond the mosaics and marble lies another side of Palermo: raw, noisy, delicious. In its historic street markets—Ballarò, Vucciria, Capo—you’ll hear the pulse of the city. Here, we’ll sample the food that fuels Palermo’s streets: crisp panelle (chickpea fritters), golden arancine, and maybe even a bite of the infamous pane ca’ meusa (spleen sandwich). Your guide will help decode the stories behind the flavors, revealing how conquest and creativity have shaped even the street food.

 

Your Tour

 

Our tour is designed for visitors to have a good grounding in the city for further exploration. Or particularly for visitors from the cruise terminal who may have limited time in the city and it can leave from the cruise ship pier. This would be a perfect option to get the most from your time in Palermo. Wear comfortable shoes, we cover a good amount of ground at an easy pace on this tour. The tour includes admission to sites, transportation and an expert guide from Through Eternity.

Cancellation Policy

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, minus any ticket costs.