We start the tour by visiting the Norman Royal Palace with its Palatine Chapel of King Roger II, famous for its Byzantine mosaics and wooden Arabic Muqarna-ceiling. Afterwards we stroll along the Bonanno Park with its palm trees, an artificially created oasis in town, to the Cathedral (visit from outside). This monumental edifice from the 12th century has been rebuilt several times since. We then take to the narrow streets of the Albergheria district and the picturesque Ballarò Market with its many colourful fish, vegetable, fruit, meat and herb stands. Crossing the Giudecca, the former Jewish quarter, we arrive at Piazza Bellini. There we admire the two small Norman churches La Martorana (visit from outside) and San Cataldo (visit from outside), architectural jewels from medieval times. Close by, we find the City Council Square, which has been adorned for more than 400 years with the Pretoria Fountain, famously praised by the art critic Giorgio Vasari. After hearing about the history of this Florentine fountain and its Carrara marble statues, we end our city walk at the baroque square Quattro Canti, right in the heart of the old city centre.

The two-hour city tour takes place every Tuesday at 5 p.m. (minimum participants 10 persons). Meeting place is the cashiers desk of the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale), which is situated at the backside of the Palace (near Piazza Indipendenza). Please get your entrance ticket for the Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina) at least ten minutes before the tour starts, since the cashiers desk closes at 5 p.m. The admission fee is EUR 7 (EU citizens younger than 18 and older than 65 years can get free admission, showing their passport). In case the Palatine Chapel will be closed for a wedding, we visit the Cathedral with its Royal tombs (Admission fee: EUR 2). The meeting place remains the same.
The price for the city walk is EUR 10 each (children up to 16 years free). Registration can be made by email: a.bestler@sizilienreisen.com (You will get an email of confirmation informing you whether the tour will take place) or by phone: (0039)-339-6600612.