Excursion Palermo market & santa caterina church tour at Palermo

Leave the pier by coach and start the panoramic sightseeing drive of Palermo.

Palermo sightseeing, city centre walking tour, food market

Comfortably admire from your coach the main monuments such as the Norman Palace, which began life in the Saracen period and altered by the Norman kings; the Felice Gate, the Marina Square and the Garibaldi Gardens.

Leave the coach near Porta Carini and continue on foot to reach the "Al Capo or Ballaro' " food market. The market is an animated, characteristic and folkloristic place: the colours, the screams ("vuci") of the vendors, the animation of the stalls, make it an essential element of Palermo city's character. Open every day, it gives the possibility to purchase any kind of grocery and several other merchandise.

Santa Caterina Church, Monastery

Afterwards, reboard your coach and drive to Santa Caterina Church. The Church stands next to a fourteenth-century monastery of Dominican nuns and was built between 1566 and 1596. The dome was added In the eighteenth century and the choir in 1863. The façade is in late Renaissance style; inside, the chapels are in rococo style with very rich marble decorations and eighteenth-century frescoes, which make it one of the richest churches in Palermo. The visit continues also inside the Monastery, where the cloistered nuns were leaving, exploring their private cells. Weather permitting, access upstairs on the terrace to enjoy a magnificenf view of Palermo centre.

Enjoy a tasting of a typical local specialty before returning to the coach for the drive back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Palermo, Food Market, Santa Caterina Church

Note

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking and standing for approximately 1.2 miles (about 1.8 kilometres), with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and 80/100 steps at the Church and Monastery. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and for guests who utilize a wheelchair. During the summer months, temperatures in Sicily can be extremely high. Guests are advised to stay hydrated, wear sun protection, and take precautions against heat exposure. Lightweight, comfortable clothing and walking shoes are recommended. Shoulders and Legs must be covered to enter churches. Please note that guides may have accents reflecting their regional backgrounds, which adds to the diversity and richness of the experience. Please note that guides may have accents reflecting their regional backgrounds, which adds to the diversity and richness of the experience.