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!

Outstanding and remarkable are small words when it comes to describe a visit to Villa Palagonia in…read moreBagheria. From the absurd to the very beautiful. Almost impossible to understand the man who once built this small castle. Still in private hands a lot could be said about the lack of preservation, but what a surprise to see. The pictures tell you a lot. Are you in the Palermo area go and visit Villa Palagonia in the center of the city. The impressions you get are complexed and I promise it will be kept in your memory for ever.

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.

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%

This castle is by far my favorite place in the world (so far!) and I might be biased because my…read morefamily is from this small town, but this castle is a hidden gem. If you are traveling to Sicily, Palermo will likely be one of your stops. If you are willing to drive into a smaller town, you have to visit Carini and more specifically, this castle. It's breath-taking... every step leading to this castle and within in is spectacular and rich in culture. If you have time, do some research before visiting on the background of this castle. Locals and tour guides can tell you about it, but there are so many amazing details and legends that it's worth Googling in advance. The story is that the married Baronessa Di Carini, Laura Lanza, was involved in a love affair with a commoner and her father, the king, once getting word of this, killed her. During her death, she touched the blood on her side and grabbed onto the wall with her bloodied hand in her last effort to cry for help. Legends say that this handprint could not be washed off by the maids and was still visible in Laura's room until the 1950s. The room then collapsed, but you can see artifacts from that time period on your tour. If you are into history, this should be on your list of attractions to visit in Sicily. Locals still hold processions and parades for the Baronessa. If that's all too grim for you, no worries. The castle itself is a work of art. If you are a resident of Carini, you'll get a discounted rate for entry. For the rest of us, entry to the castle is a bit more (check their website) but definitely worth it. Every room is magnificent and the windows will lead you to amazing views of the city. Photographers rejoice. You can also snap pictures of the old paintings which are said to go back to the 1400s and are still in tact. My suggestion is to visit during the morning hours so you can see the rooms in natural light. If that isn't enough for you, they have a built in bar and lounge in the building attached (so it's technically a bar inside of castle!). If you're not sure where to go, just follow the cobble stones out front and you will usually see a swarm of vespas parked outside as this is a local hotspot. If the bar scene isn't for you, there is a restaurant down the block that offers stunning views of the city as well as the water and the famous Isola Delle Femmine. There's also a gelateria located down the steps from the castle's bar if you just need a sweet treat. If you do come to visit this castle, let me know how your experience is. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Contemporary art is usually different. Unlike "modern" art, it's typically more current and can…read moresometimes be political. There wasn't that political stuff, which was nice. Paolo Madonia's art was definitely unique. He paints the pictures and then sets them on fire. I'm not kidding. The randomness of the fire scorches is art. I'm not sure what was going on with the upstairs level. I think the armoires are to be hung from the ceiling? Outside, the rock circle was interesting too. On a Sunday afternoon, I believe that I was the only person in the Museum. That was certainly nice. [Review 12845 overall, 160 of 2020.]

Lovely at night, the Column of the Immaculate Conception is the centerpiece of the Piazza San…read moreDomenico in front of the Chiesa di San Domenico in Palermo's historic district. The Column was designed in 1724 and erected in 1728. A large marble base and the high column is also marble with a bronze statue atop. At the base, statues of two popes. Worth a visit if you are in the area, but not really worth going out of your way. [Review 12792 overall, 106 of 2020.]

Originally built as a Benedictine monastery and founded by Pope Gregory in 581, when Sicily was…read moreinvaded by Muslims in the 9th century, the monastery was destroyed and rebuilt as a mosque. And then in 1132, Norman King Roger II reconsecreated the mosque as a church. Disctinctive for the red domes at the top of the church, these are leftover homages to the Arab style. The church itself is a Latin Cross decorated with white bricks. Inside, much of the church is now greenery with tropical plants and trees. Entry is a minor €6 and is well worth it. You just can't see all of this from the outside. The garden is beautiful and the structure itself is very well preserved. There are some beautiful photos to be taken here. I'm really glad I learned about this place and if you're near the Palermo cathedral, make the walk to this church. You will not be disappointed. [Review 12827 overall, 142 of 2020.]