The fam was enchanted with our tour of this small charming fishing village. The locals were…read moreextremely friendly and were not appalled at us tourist. It may have helped that we were the only tour in town. I hope this little village remains undiscovered by the hordes so that it can be enjoyed at leisure. Coming to Sicily off season or to Italy in general is the best way to travel to avoid the overwhelming crowd.

If you're planning a trip to Sicily, don't miss the enchanting coastal town of Cefalù! This…read morecharming, rugged cliffside gem is adorned with stunning architecture and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches. We fell head over heels for Cefalù! Just steps from the sparkling ocean, you'll discover fantastic cliff side restaurants that serve delicious local cuisine, all while surrounded by breathtaking, crystal-clear waters. Do keep in mind that this is a traditional Sicilian town so it features very narrow alleys; even the smallest car will have quite a challenge to navigate around. I highly recommend visiting this delightful town! Cefalù, I'm officially obsessed with you!!

The narrow streets and lanes of old town Cefalu are quite a sight. This is one of the two main…read moredrags in the old town. And in my opinion the nicer one (the other being Corso Ruggero, nice also). Countless little shops and stores, cafés and restaurants. Many of course aimed at tourists, but also some independent little mom'n'pop shops. It is a very picturesque street with lots of lovely buildings and homes. If there's a downside, then it's the traffic. It's so narrow, it is a headache for visitors and locals as well. But people work and live here, so there's no way around it, understandable. Cefalu is a really lovely town, surely not to be missed on a visit to Sicily.

A must see on any visit to Palermo, especially for the awe inspiring Palatine chapel and its golden…read moremosaics covering the soaring walls. You'll spend most of your visit in the chapel but some of the other rooms where the ancient Spanish and Norman kings resided are also worth a peek as is the small botanical garden. We visited during COVID so masks were required as was proof of vaccination (aka green pass) and we had wo all through a sanitizing mist following the metal detectors to enter. Timed tickets in advance are needed

In all likelihood the top attraction in Palermo. The royal apartments with their Bourbon era…read morefurniture are lovely but the big draw is the capella with its absolutely astounding Norman/Byzantine mosaics. An absolute must for visitors to Palermo.

Visited the Palermo Cathedral while in town and wow -- it's absolutely beautiful. The architecture…read moreand deep history are truly stunning, and its UNESCO status feels well-deserved. We wandered for a while and found plenty of great photo spots. Entry is paid, but worth it. Definitely a must-see when in Palermo. Saluti!

Beautiful! The interior, and the altars were amazing. There are crypts of two kings from the tenth…read moreand eleventh century there. The silver altar needs to be seen to be believed. This church is definitely worth the visit!

"The Fountain of Shame" because a number of the statues here are rather undressed. The "Praetorian…read moreFountain" was originally created for the garden of don Luigi de Toledo of Florence in 1551. In 1573, the fountain was sold to the city of Palermo and reinstalled after it was moved. A restoration was completed in 2003. According to our tour guide, a recent Dolce & Gabbana runway took place here. Which I would totally understand as the Piazza is quite lovely. Well worth a stop to check it out and photograph. [Review 12821 overall, 136 of 2020.]

We found this gorgeous fountain as we walked along the Via Maqueda. It is a very busy area filled…read morewith tourists most every day. There are horse drawn carriages that you can rent for a very nice ride to see area located right on the street.

Probably the most spectacular and over-the-top of Palermo's amazing Sicilian baroque churches,…read moreespecially for its stuccoed and frescoed ceiling and elaborately decorated side chapels. Not to be missed.

The Duomo Monreale is the main attraction in Monreale if you make it a destination point while…read moretraveling throughout the island. The Cathedral is located centrally in the small town of Monreale which is located on the slope of Monte Caputo about 12 miles outside of Palermo. The Cathedral is considered one of greatest existing examples of Norman architecture and is a national monument. It is beautifully preserved and the dome inside and the cloisters outside are especially beautiful. The church is not always open and is closed around lunchtime. Make sure to check the times it is open to the public to avoid waiting.

When we stopped in Sicily, we took the tour from Palermo to Monreale. We had no idea what was in…read morestore, but could've easily guessed that a large cathedral would be involved...and we weren't disappointed. Ha! The Duomo Monreale is another gorgeous cathedral on the side of a mountain. The tour bus drops you off at a lot below it and you have to walk up a small street with tourist trap shops on the way up to the cathedral. We ignored the shops and went directly to the cathedral so we could spend as much time inside. We were blown away at how beautiful this place was. Intricate art and finishes are all over the interior. How could there have been so many master craftsmen back then? What happened to this talent? Why do we make such crappy, uninspired buildings now? These are some of the many things I pondered while admiring the place. Overall, it was another solid monument to visit. Return Factor - 100%