Guided Site tours
Outside the city
Monreale Cathedral and Benedictine Cloister
A guided tour of Monreale Cathedral and the Benedictine Cloister is an unforgettable experience!
In 1174, the Norman King William II moved his residence from the Royal Palace of Palermo to the slopes of Monte Caputo, founding Monreale, one of Sicily’s most fascinating destinations.
Here, the king invested enormous resources to create a prestigious archbishopric with vast estates and to build one of the most spectacular monumental complexes in the Mediterranean.
The Monreale Cathedral, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage, is famous for over 6,000 square meters of Byzantine mosaics, depicting biblical stories in a dazzling explosion of gold and color.
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1487/
Next to the cathedral stands the magnificent Benedictine Cloister, a Romanesque masterpiece with more than 200 columns adorned with capitals carved with biblical scenes, allegorical figures, and vegetal motifs.
Depending on visitors’ interests, the tour can also include:
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the Chapel of Roano, a refined example of Sicilian Baroque
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access to the cathedral walkways, offering a breathtaking panorama of the Conca d’Oro and the Gulf of Palermo
Meeting point
Monreale, piazza Guglielmo II
Duration
2 hours
End point
Monreale, piazza Guglielmo II
Type
Walking tour within Monreale; access requires public or private transportation to reach Monreale
Guide fee
€ 160
Additional costs
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Entrance ticket to Monreale Cathedral
https://www.duomomonreale.com/cosa-visitare/duomo-di-monreale
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Entrance ticket to Benedictine Cloister
https://www.coopculture.it/it/prodotti/biglietto-chiostro-di-santa-maria-nuova-monreale/
Difficulty
Suitable for all
Some areas are accessible only via stairs
Notes
Possible restrictions on internal visits due to religious celebrations or special events will be communicated directly by the guide.
See also
In the heart of the city
Palermo, a multicultural city
In the heart of the city
Palazzo Butera