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Private tour in Palermo Giorgio F
The Leopard: The most stunning Baroque Private Palace in Sicily Private Tour W/Transportation
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3 hours
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3 hours
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Giorgio F.
5.0
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Architect and aesthete, I am a cosmopolitan Sicilian, deeply attached to my land and curious about other cultures. I have a PhD in Management of Cultural Heritage and I am an expert in the World Heritage Sites. I spent a few years working as a researcher at the University of Palermo, carrying out some international projects about conservation and enhancement of built Heritage, in partnership with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. I am an enthusiastic promoter of this amazing island, by helping travelers to understand my land and also encouraging the re-appropriation of the Sicilian people as a member of FAI, a kind of Italian National Trust. Influenced by my uncle, an eclectic collector - a sort of Leopard - my aim is to allow people to experience Sicily in the most authentic way, by showing them the landmarks - such as the tangible and intangible UNESCO World Heritage - but describing also the process of Palermo's social and urban regeneration or the eccentric figures (aristocrats, entrepreneurs, Art collectors and intellectuals) and their palaces. Licensed tour guide of the Sicilian Region 2008 - Master's Degree in Architecture at the University of Palermo with final grade of 110/100 cum laude. Graduation thesis: "The hellenistic Theatre of Morgantina: Fact-finding and conservative Processes". Tutor: Prof. Alberto Sposito. 2012-2014 Researcher for the International Research Project titled "Architecture Punique Hellénistique et Romaine", funded by the European Union within the Italy-Tunisia cross-border Cooperation Programme for 2007-2013. Partners: University of Palermo, Institut National du Patrimoine and the Agence de Mise en Valeur du Patrimoine et de Promotion Culturelle de Tunis, Parco archeologico e paesaggistico Valle dei Templi, Centro Regionale per la Progettazione e il Restauro - Scientific Director Prof. M. L. Germanà. 2009 Winner of the European Commission "Leonardo da Vinci" Programme grant, Intern at Studio Arquitecto Josep Ustrell i Sort, Barcelona, Spain. If my calendar is full, feel free to contact me, I'll be happy to help you! I can arrange luxury transportation in a Mercedes with a professional driver. For easy communication on the day of the tour, I suggest downloading WhatsApp on your smartphone.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Giorgio F.
Everything must change for everything to remain the same
Overview of your Palermo tour
This is the sentence that sums up the aristocratic vision of the Prince Giuseppe Tomasi of Lampedusa in his literary masterpiece The Leopard. This novel became later a great movie, directed by Luchino Visconti in 1963. Our tour will take you into the inaccessible world of Sicilian aristocracy. We will first see the house where the writer prince of Lampedusa was born, destroyed during World War II. Then they will open for us the doors of Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi, the most important princely palace in Palermo, where the ball scene from The Leopard was filmed. Claudia Cardinale (the heiress Angelica) dances with the Prince of Salina (Burt Lancaster): the old world of aristocracy and the new world of rising wealth meet. This palazzo is an exceptional example in the panorama of Palermo, because it is still preserved intact in its size of more than 80000 square feet and its furniture. Everything is still in place and shows us the pomp and luxury of the Sicilian aristocracy.
Your Palermo tour itinerary
The Highlights of my tour: • We will first see the house where the writer prince of Lampedusa was born • Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi Remember, this is just a suggested itinerary, and you can customize the tour based on your preferences and available time. In the museums, in the archaeological sites and in general in all the churches dress code for both men and women requires shoulders and knees to be covered. Shorts and skirts are fine, but below knees. Do not bring large items (e. g. large bags, backpacks, long umbrellas…) on tour because they are not permitted.
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Transport details
Type: Private Transportation
Walking Tour I would advise you to wear a comfy shoes Private car and driver
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3 hours
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3 hours
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