With more than 2,700 years of history, the Royal Palace of Palermo (also called Palazzo dei Normanni) is one of those places not to be missed during your trip to Sicily.

Once the seat of the Kings of Sicily, it is the oldest royal residence in Europe. Already a fortified castle, at the time of the city's foundation it was profoundly renovated and expanded by the Norman kings of Sicily, making it their main residence, seat of the court, the treasury, and important royal factories. Under Frederick II it hosted the Sicilian Poetic School. Subsequently, for a short period, it was also the Court of the Inquisition and then the seat of the Viceroy as well as the Sicilian Parliament.

The Palace contains and protects, like a very precious pearl, “the most beautiful church in the world”. This is how Guy de Maupassant defined the Palatine Chapel. Built in 1140 by the first king of Sicily, Roger of Hauteville, as a symbol of his power and ambitions, you can admire unique masterpieces such as the Byzantine mosaics on the walls, the Islamic muqarnas ceiling and the marble floor with inlays of the Romanesque tradition. Everything here comes together harmoniously. You will be amazed.

IMPORTANT:

• To enter the Palace and the Palatine Chapel you need an entrance ticket. It can be purchased at the Royal Palace ticket office or online;
• The tour takes place only in Italian;