Chapter 2 - Palermo, Monreale
DAY
1 & 2
Our Tour Begins
Day 1 - November 12, 2024
We met our guides and tour members for the relaxed orientation meeting on the rooftop terrace at 3:00 p.m. The introductions and laughter left no doubt this is a fun group to be traveling with! A number of singles are among the group, as are a number of Susan's (4). Hmm...the name game might not be so bad!
After the orientation, we all walked a short distance to tour the Palazzo Conte Federico. The Contessa, who was born Austrian and married into the Federico family, welcomed us warmly. She gave a fascinating history of her family's beautiful home, which is also one of the oldest buildings in Palermo.
We enjoyed a group dinner at Ristorante Pizzaria Italia that included delicious pasta, wild greens, seabass, and dessert. We returned to the hotel full and ready to get a good night's sleep.
Palazzo Conte Federico
Let's Meet on the Rooftop Terrace!
A palace tour awaits just around the corner!
Benvenuti in Sicilia!
(Welcome to Sicily!)
Count Alessandro Federico and his family currently reside in the Palazzo Conte Federico. The palace can be traced back to Federico d’Antiochia, one of the sons of the great Emperor Federico II.
The palace is filled with beautiful artwork and furnishings. Tours are open to the public and apartments are available for bookings.
18,071 Steps
Let's Take a Walk
Let's Take a Walk
Palermo City Walk
Day 2 - November 13, 2024
We woke to a beautiful sunny day and after a buffet breakfast at the hotel, our group met up with local guide, Jackie. She took us on a city walk of Palermo from medieval times. We saw churches, the old Jewish section, areas with Muslim influence, and the Fountain of Shame/Praetorian Fountain (Fontana Pretoria). Jackie also took us through the Ballarò Market that has been in existence for over 1000 years. Palermo was easy to navigate and had something of historical interest in all directions. Walking through city markets is one of our favorite activities on these trips and one of the things we miss when we get home to the states.
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Buongiorno!
(Good morning!)
Jackie shared that there is a resurgence of interest in preserving the Sicilian language in recent years. She is very passionate about this effort, noting that UNESCO has classified the Sicilian language as "Vulnerable." In 2016, the Cademia Siciliana (Sicilian Academy) was founded "to promote the Sicilian language through education, research, and activism," according to Wikipedia.
The Praetorian Fountain is made of marble and is situated near the church of Santa Caterina. It was originally built in 1544 in Florence by Francesco Camilliani. It was later sold, transferred, and reassembled in Palermo in 1574.
Let's Take a Ride
The Monreale Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova di Monreale; Duomo di Monreale) is one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture still in existence. It is a Roman Catholic church and construction was begun in 1174 by William II of Sicily. The mosaics were created in a Byzantine style.
Mosaics in Monreale
Day 2 - November 13, 2024
We met our bus and driver as we left Palermo and drove a short distance to the village of Monreale. Alessandro was our driver for the trip and had ample opportunities to demonstrate his expertise when maneuvering the large bus through tight spaces. As always on Rick Steves' tours, there was plenty of room to spread out on the bus. You can choose to nap or enjoy the scenic landscapes. Bus time is also information time, opportunity for Q & A, and fellowship. This bus trip was a short one as Monreale is basically a suburb of Palermo.
Monreale is located on the slope of Monte Caputo and is known for its magnificent Roman Catholic cathedral. The Monreale Cathedral features gilded Byzantine mosaics and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were WOWed by the beauty of the cathedral and the vistas on the edge of town. The first full day of our tour set the standards high and it will be exciting to see what else Sicily has in store!
So many beautiful scenes in majestic Monreale!
WOW!
Let's Take a Walk
Free Time to Explore
On Our Own in Palermo
Day 2 - November 13, 2024
We arrived back in Palermo from Monreale in the mid afternoon. Kevin and I decided to walk to the Port of Palermo to view it under sunny blue skies instead of the gray mist we had on our pre-tour visit. We also toured the marble-filled Saint Catherine of Alexandria church and monastery. and then enjoyed some sweet treats from the monastery's bakery.
At dusk, we returned to the hotel and met our group for drinks and fellowship on the rooftop. After taking some night shots of the Palermo skyline, we headed out on our own for dinner. The Mercato Maquedo was calling our name and, again, it didn't disappoint!
There's a magnificent church to see. Let's go!
St. Agatha is Sicily's patron saint and is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of the Catholic Church. She was born in Sicily around 231 and martyred at a young age. St. Agatha is also the patron saint of Palermo, breast cancer patients and rape victims.
The marble interior of St. Catherine's of Alexandria Church takes your breath away!
The decorative ceiling at St. Catherine's church.
The monastery of St. Catherine's. Rooms with a view!
The marble interior of St. Catherine's of Alexandria Church takes your breath away!
WOW!
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Day & Night Rooftop Scene in Palermo
Kevin chose a chocolate dessert from the bakery while I had to try a famous Sicilian Breast of St. Agatha/Minne di sant’Agata. It's a yummy ricotta and marzipan pastry created by nuns centuries ago to honor the Sicilian saint's famed body part.
