If you are in Palermo, you can't miss a visit to the great Norman jewel of Sicily on this self-guided day trip to Monreale. Combine art and history all in one day!
Day Trip Details
At the designated time, we'll meet at Piazza Giuseppe Verdi to hop onto a vehicle that will take us to Monreale from Palermo, a mere 30 minutes from the Sicilian capital. Ready to start exploring?
For the first 15 minutes of the journey, you'll get to listen to an audio guide in English aboard the bus to learn some interesting facts.
Once we arrive at Monreale, we'll drop you off in the heart of the historical centre, where 2 of the city's treasures await you: the Cathedral and the Benedictine Cloister. Here, you'll get to spend 1 hour exploring the Cathedral, an authentic gem of Norman art.
Its simple exterior contrasts with the interior, adorned with impressive Byzantine mosaics which represent biblical scenes. Did you know that this is the largest mosaic decoration in Italy? There are over 6,000 square metres (64,583 square feet) of ornamentation in glass and stone tesserae! The famous Christ Pantocrator features among them in the central apse.
Next, you can visit the Benedictine Cloister, right next to the Cathedral. This space combines Norman architecture with Arabic and Romanesque influences. Its over 200 carved columns, each one with unique designs, are a masterpiece of medieval sculpting. This is, without a doubt, a one-of-a-kind building! Here, you'll get to spend 45 minutes exploring the cloister at your own pace.
After visiting these monuments, you'll have 15 minutes to explore the centre of Monreale. Its narrow streets are filled with charm, small artisanal shops, and cafés where you can try a real local treat like cannoli.
Lastly, we'll begin our journey back to Palermo, where we'll arrive after a total of 4 hours.