Sicily is the stuff of legends: at one time Europe's grandest city, Palermo is linked to the great histories of Norman Kingdoms and the Middle East. Unlike the more heavily touristed Italian cities of Florence or Rome, many of Palermo's most stunning treasures are the hidden ones - discover them with a private Palermo tour! A knowledgeable local guide will help you explore the city's ancient palaces, castles and churches, with their unique architectural fusion of Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Renaissance and Baroque styles.

Explore the meandering backstreet markets in Palermo's old quarter, with their evocative Middle Eastern feel. Your guide will show you the city's quiet, shady <i>piazzas</i> and bustling shopping streets, all the while explaining the history of the many cultures who have made Palermo their home throughout the ages.

Take a private Palermo tour in western Sicily and see the best parts of this exciting, eclectic region!

Palermo

Palermo with an expert - Half Day Walking Tour

Discover the heart of Palermo with its Unesco World Heritage monuments!

I will introduce you to the history of the city and show the mix of cultures and artistic styles you can find here: Europe and Africa meet in Sicily and especially in Palermo! You'll see it in the small streets, in the Arabic domes of the christian churches, in the people, everywhere.
We will also enter the Palatine Chapel in the Royal Palace and we will discover its history and the meaning of its decorations.

I've been offering this tour for 7 years and, trust me, it is perfect if you want to spend half day enjoying art, history and the special atmosphere of Sicily's Capital City.

You will discover all this trough my eyes: I am a history and arts lover, a creative person, so you will experience a different way to visit Palermo: elegance, arts, history, everyday life according to your interests and a touch of humor!

The Church Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (Martorana)

An example of the amazing decorations in the Arab-Norman Churches

The square Piazza Bellini with the Churches Martorana and San Cataldo

The Palatine Chapel Inside of the Royal Palace

Enjoy the main highlights in Palermo. Ideal for first time visitors!

Only with me you can tour inside the historic center. I have been doing this tour for more than 10 years!

I will accompany you to all the most important monuments, squares and museums of the city. We will tour among the narrow streets of the historic center, talking about the main aspects of history and our traditions.

This tour will give you a great overview of Palermo's monuments. Join me and discover everything about them!

Drive around Palermo and see all the monuments of this beautiful city

Palermo Full Day City Tour

Cefalu Private Tour - Half Day Trip from Palermo

We will visit one of the most beautiful Sicilian coastal town, rich with art and culture, from the point of view of a Sicilian economist who loves promoting the best sites of his island. I have been running this tour for 10 years and I am quite confident that you will quickly understand why it is always a pleasure to visit Cefalu!

Cefalu is charming: narrow and clean streets paved with stone, with lovely shops, restaurants and pubs. We stroll in the Medieval neighborhood, watch the beautiful city coastline from the pier, stop at some interesting viewpoints, have drinks and cookies at the main square in front of the majestic Cathedral, the first built by the first Norman king of Sicily, Roger II, in 1131!

After some free time for shopping or just window-shopping (but you will be tempted to buy some souvenirs!), lunch by the sea: it is literally by the sea, at one of the best restaurants in Cefalu. They mainly serve fresh fish but other options may also be available!

Coffee, tea or other non-alcoholic drink, with cookies. In Cefalù, before visiting the cathedral.

Cefalu, a beautiful fishing village in Sicily.

Splendours of Palermo and Monreale - Full Day Tour

I am an architect who has a combined love for art and her land. I offer historical-artistic and cultural traditions knowledge.

Palermo's Arab-Norman architectural treasures, which were recently included on the world heritage list, are a living testimony of the convergence of Western and Eastern architectural and decorative traditions, Arabic, Byzantine and Latin.

We will visit the old town, including the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral, the 4 Corners, the Pretoria Fountain and the Church of Santa Maria dell'ammiraglio (La Martorana).
We will also see the picturesque open-air food market with its incredible Arabic atmosphere!

In the afternoon we continue with Monreale, located 9 miles outside Palermo on a hill. It has one of the best cathedrals in all Italy and a panoramic view of the bay and the Conca D'Oro.

Arab- Norman tour of Palermo and Monreale

Full day tour from Palermo to Segesta, Erice and the Trapani Saltpans

A full day excursion to the pearls of western Sicily. Visit the Elymian archaeological site of Segesta with its Doric temple and the Ancient Theater. Move to the hilltop medieval village of Erice, boasting the greatest view over the whole western Sicily.

Admire the majestic Castle of Venus and lose yourself in the maze of narrow cobbled streets.
End the day at the fascinating Saltpans of Nubia to enjoy sunset among the windmills and the piles of white sea salt.

I have been guiding this tour for more than ten years and it is one of the most loved by my fellow travellers!

Guided tour to the pearls of Western Sicily

This is a tour you don't want to miss.
When you have small-time in town, quality is essential!
I am an art historian and PhD researcher in public archeology, glad to share with you my expertise about the history of Sicily.

A visit with an expert is highly recommended for the huge number of UNESCO sites and the complexity of the architecture of Palermo, one of the oldest and astonishing cities in the Mediterranean.

In this tour, we'll pass through alleys, palaces and talk about history, architecture, ancient legends, urban stories, culture and traditions. I will take you on an amazing walk from Teatro Massimo through the heart of the food market, "Il Capo".

We'll visit the Norman Cathedral, the most important highlights in the historical center, such as Piazza Pretoria, I Quattro Canti, two of the most ancient churches (Martorana and San Cataldo), but also the Baroque Cloister of Santa Catarina's nuns, with its hidden pastry!

View from the roof of the Palermo cathedral

City Wonders Orientation Tour

Palermo with an Art Historian

The Palermo fo the mafia and the one of Mussolini, the city of the elegant theaters and the one of the Spanish Inquisition, the capital of a Medieval empire and the cosmopolitan and multicultural city of today. Palermo has changed so much in the last 1000 years in order to become what it used to be 1000 years ago: the center of the Mediterranean.

Ours will be a pleasant walk through 2000 years of art, history, culture, food and social life. We will discover together what people ate in the middle ages and what they buy today at the fresh market as the rich past of this incredible city is embroidered with the present one.

Let me tell you of a christian king who lived like a sultan, of muslims and jews during the Spanish domination, of the exaggerated pleasures of the local aristocracy in 1700. The old and half destroyed walls, a still dramatic evidence of the second world war hide astonishing treasures, you won't believe your eyes!

So are you ready to discover all the secrets of Palermo?

All you really need to know to understand this city

Full Day Palermo Walking Tour

Palermo Half Day Walking Tour - A Sensual and Fascinating City

Welcome to Palermo! During this walking tour I'll be more than happy to show you around this amazing city full of contrasts and contradictions.

As a passionate guide and authentic native of Palermo, I wish to reveal to you all the stories behind the city main attractions, discover the hidden corner capturing its every secret. You'll get a full experience of Palermo and its unique essence!

The walking tour includes Palermo's best historical artistic monument located in the city reflecting Norman Sicily's cultural complexity. The cathedral, Quattro Canti the octagonal square with four richly decorated and quite appealing façades, Pretoria fountain one of the most fascinating monuments of Palermo because of the nudity of the statues, the square became known as "Square of Shame". Piazza Bellini, this square is one of the most beautiful in the city; It is surrounded by three churches, la Martorana, San Cataldo, Santa Caterina.

Palermo Pretoria Fountain ( known as Fountain of shame )

Let's explore the hidden secrets of Palermo. There's all sorts of rumours flying....

Palermo and Monreale - Private Half Day Shore Excursion

Sitting at the crossroads of history, Palermo makes me proud because it bears the mark of many world cultures and civilizations. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th centuries B. C. , the city was conquered by Arabs in 831, a period of immense prosperity commenced, and reached the climax in the 12th centuries.

This tour of Palermo and its surroundings will witness that multicultural mix crossing medieval architecture, art, landscapes, flavors, smells and sounds.

I have lead this tour since 1998, I still enjoy it and guests always love it!

Driving and walking through the city you will be enchanted by boulevards and squares, traditional Sicilian Old Quarter, and baroque churches and palaces. Afterwards you will be driven to Monreale to discover the Arab-Norman splendor of the Cathedral, that shows the diverse architectural influences of both the Normans and of the Arab population.

Discover the best of Palermo and the splendour of Monreale

Fall in Love with Palermo - Half Day City Tour

What are your dreams of Palermo? Are you interested in history, architecture, culture, food, gardens, or politics? Whatever your interests are, this is the right tour, especially if your time is short in Palermo. You'll be amazed how much you can discover about Palermo and the Sicilian way of life with me.

On this tour, you'll see the must-see sights: walking through an authentic historic food market, passing the Jewish quarter, and reaching the historic Spanish center of Palermo. You will learn not only about art, architecture, and history, but also my personal experiences. You will not just see the sights, but understand the every day life of the Sicilian people.

My guests love this tour, they are always surprised and astonished about the beauty and wide variety of Palermo.

The perfect highlights tour for first time visitors

This tour gives you the possibility to enjoy some real spectacular monuments from one of the best periods of the Sicilian history: the Normand's age. It is incredible that throughout the centuries they are still in perfect conditions.

You will also be able to take beautiful pictures of Palermo from the hilltop and enjoy the typical food market from the Arab times. A very interesting experience for all visitors! You will smell the flavours of the traditional Palermitan street food!

Monreale bronze doors from 1186 by Bonanno Pisano

the incredible wooden carved ceiling of the Palatine Chapel

Strange animals in the Pretoria fountain!

Marvellous Arab-Normand "jewels" and more...

Palermo and Monreale Full Day Tour

This is a Walking tour and is designed for those who visit Palermo for the first time and includes four very special sites
Walking tour in Palermo city centre
- The Cathedral of Palermo
- Martorana Church.
St. Caterina of Alessandria
--Quattro Canti
_Fontana Pretoria
This itinerary give you the opportunity to appreciate the most beautiful sites of Palermo

Segesta tours

Explore with 154 tours and 26 guides.

Mauro A.

$ 324 (USD)

Bartolomeo A.

$ 498 (USD)

Giorgio D.

$ 786 (USD)

Cetty S.

$ 417 (USD)

Giorgio C.

$ 810 (USD)

Valentina M.

$ 336 (USD)

Gaetano S.

$ 405 (USD)

Roberta T.

$ 324 (USD)

Pietro P.

$ 579 (USD)

Claudia P.

$ 312 (USD)

Josie N.

$ 463 (USD)

Iolanda L.

$ 255 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Segesta

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