Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made 15 or more days in advance of your tour date are fully refundable, minus credit card processing fees. See our complete Cancellation Policy for more information.
Monreale & Cefalù - the Norman Jewels
Day Trips
Art & Culture
About
Today, we’re going to discover some incredible Norman architecture and history, all just a short drive away from Palermo. And while a few cathedrals are the highlights of the tour, I promise you, this tour is about much, much more than churches and religion!
To start the day, we’ll head a few kilometers inland from Palermo to Monreal, a pleasant town perched on the slopes of Monte Caputo. Here, we’ll head straight to the main square, where an incredible Norman complex awaits us: the Cathedral of Monreale, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Benedictine Cloister - 3 amazing sights.
To start, we’ll tour the inside of the church, admiring the intricate Arabic-Norman mosaics that completely cover its walls and roof. We’ll then head to the Benedictine Cloister, which is a beautiful and peaceful green oasis. We’ll then take a quick stroll over to a panoramic viewpoint, which provides unbelievable views over Palermo and out to the sea.
We’ll typically spend about 1.5-2 hours in Monreale, and will then set our sights on another fabulous destination: the charming and medieval seaside city of Cefalù. About an hour’s drive from Monreale, this charming fishing village is dominated by another two huge monuments, one natural and the other manmade: a huge rock massif rising over the sea and town, and a massive Norman cathedral.
In Cefalù, we’ll go for a walk through the town’s cobblestone streets and will then sit down for lunch, typically at a great little seafood spot. After lunch, we’ll head into the cathedral, which is similarly covered in magnificent mosaics. The cathedral sits on a beautiful main square, which we’ll explore as well, and then from there, we can spend the rest of the afternoon however you’d like: heading over to the lovely town beach, meandering through the little streets and visiting its quaint craft shops, or visiting the Mandralisca museum, which documents the city’s history.
At the end of the day, we’ll hop back in the car and make the 1-hour drive back to Palermo (or around).
Gianluca
Overview
Highlights
- Cathedral of Monreale & Benedictine Cloister
- Cefalù's beach and cobblestone streets
- Cefalù Cathedral
- Rocca di Cefalù
- Private tour - only you and your guide
Tour Itinerary
Pick up at your accommodation in/around Palermo
30-minute drive to Monreale
1.5-2 hours in Monreale, visiting the cathedral, cloister, and panoramic viewpoint
1-hour drive to Cefalù
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made 15 or more days in advance of your tour date are fully refundable, minus credit card processing fees. See our complete Cancellation Policy for more information.
