Palazzo dei Normanni & Cappella Palatina Guided Tour

Palermo boasts an enviable multi-millennial history and this is evidenced by the numerous churches, squares, monuments and palaces from different eras scattered throughout the urban fabric. Among the most remarkable historical buildings is surely the Palazzo dei Normanni with the attached Palatine Chapel, no less than the oldest royal residence in Europe. With this exclusive tour you can visit them while listening to their history and origins from the voice of an accredited, experienced and local guide.

Palazzo dei Normanni or the Royal Palace, as it is otherwise known, is a symbolic monument to the prosperity, political power and culture of the Norman Kingdom. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the complex was built around the 10th century and is the oldest royal residence built in Europe and currently serves the important function as the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, the Sicilian Parliament. The ensemble of buildings includes very different environments, many of which date back to different historical periods: the foundations of the Palace, for example, show layers of fortified settlements of Phoenician origin, with evidence of Greek-Roman, Byzantine, Arab and clearly Norman remains. Stop along the way to admire the details and take photos to share with friends and family back home. The ensemble of buildings creates, intertwined with the Palatine Chapel, two beautiful inner courtyards with gardens. You will then continue your visit inside the palace where the rooms are spread on two levels. The entire palace, the rooms and the furnishings are a representation of human skills and local craftsmanship. It is the best known building in Palermo and a true treasure chest of inestimable value. The Normans transformed it over time into the nerve center of the monarchy and built four towers connected by porticoes and gardens.

You will then go up to the first floor where you will have access to the Palatine Chapel, with its 12th century mosaics of the highest quality and a beautifully painted wooden ceiling. The beauty of the place will leave you speechless. The chapel, founded in 1132 by Ruggero II, is undoubtedly one of Europe's greatest masterpieces. After his coronation in 1130, Ruggero II ordered the construction of the Chapel. It was to represent both architecturally and decoratively the meeting of different cultures and religions, as Byzantine, Islamic and Latin craftsmen were involved in its realization. What impresses and fascinates thousands of travellers the most each year are the Byzantine mosaics depicting religious scenes from the gospel and considered by many to be among the most important mosaics in the entire country. Also noteworthy are the imposing royal throne and the beautiful wooden ceiling with the muqarnas, corner niches of Arab tradition. It is an extraordinary example of religious, cultural and artistic integration.

Although the tour tells centuries of history, it has a total duration of about 1.5 hours, so you can spend the rest of the day discovering Palermo's wonderful historic center!