What to do and see in Province of Palermo, Sicily: The Best Churches & Cathedrals

April 13, 2022 Misti Hsu

The Province of Palermo (Italian: provincia di Palermo; Sicilian: pruvincia di Palermu) was a province in the autonomous region of Sicily, a major island in Southern Italy. Its capital was the city of Palermo. On August 4, 2015, it was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Palermo.
Restaurants in Province of Palermo

1. Duomo di Monreale

Piazza Guglielmo II 1, 90046, Monreale, Sicily Italy +39 091 640 4413 [email protected] http://www.monrealeduomo.it/index.php
Excellent
84%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 5,096 reviews

Duomo di Monreale

Reviewed By AnnaliseE4 - Bristol, United Kingdom

Caught the bus from Palermo - the fountains on the way up - the views - the Cathedral - views from the roof - the abbey - it is a half day to day trip (they close mid day for a couple of hours) well worth taking

2. Nobile e Monumentale Chiesa dell'Immacolata Concezione al Capo

Via di Porta Carini Mercato Storico del Capo, 90134, Palermo, Sicily Italy +39 091 328430 [email protected] http://chiesaimmacolataconcezione.jimdofree.com/
Excellent
88%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 272 reviews

Nobile e Monumentale Chiesa dell'Immacolata Concezione al Capo

Reviewed By patriciamP6718EZ

I agree with the reviewers who found the baroque beautiful and overwhelming. One feature that I found stunning was the use of Pietra Dure on four side altars. The guides said this was not Florentine artistry, but native Palermitans who executed it, making it all the more remarkable. Realizing it was built in 1622 it is a wonder that it was built directly across the street from the more ancient church of Sant Ippolito, which was the parish seat from 1309. So, don't miss that church if it's opened when you visit.

3. Chiesa Madre Santa Maria Maggiore

Via Roma, 90028 Polizzi Generosa, Sicily Italy http://www.comune.polizzi.pa.it/la-citta/monumenti-e-beni-artistici
Excellent
82%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 17 reviews

Chiesa Madre Santa Maria Maggiore

4. Chiesa Inferiore della Cappella Palatina

Piazza del Parlamento, 90131, Palermo, Sicily Italy +39 091 334373 http://www.cappellapalatinapalermo.it/chiesa-inferiore/
Excellent
93%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 561 reviews

Chiesa Inferiore della Cappella Palatina

Reviewed By robinn669 - Farnham, United Kingdom

Housed in the recently reorganised Norman Palace there are few adequate superlatives. You just have to see it- ideally in the winter months when smart phone infection is least prevalent

5. Chiesa Madre

Via S. Pietro 7, 90044 Carini, Sicily Italy +39 091 868 8473 https://www.comune.carini.pa.it/artesacra.asp
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Chiesa Madre

6. Church of San Cataldo

Piazza Bellini, Palermo, Sicily Italy http://www.museodiocesanopa.it/chiese/s-cataldo
Excellent
54%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 978 reviews

Church of San Cataldo

This small church of San Cataldo was built in 1160, during the Norman occupation of Palermo.

Reviewed By AndrewC5362 - London, United Kingdom

Although small, this is a building of such historic importance that no traveller to Palermo should miss it. The fabric has been very sensitively restored by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, whose chapel it is.

7. Chiesa di San Domenico

Piazza San Domenico, 90133, Palermo, Sicily Italy +39 091 584872 http://www.domenicani-palermo.it
Excellent
48%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 352 reviews

Chiesa di San Domenico

This baroque church, built in 1640, is noted for its bell-tower decorated with Maiolica ceramic tiles from Caltagirone.

Reviewed By 873AmyB873 - London, United Kingdom

This church in a small square is simply stunning to look at. It’s also got the tomb of one of the anti-Mafia judges who was assassination by the mob, which is very interesting and also moving.

8. Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (La Martorana)

Piazza Bellini 3, 90133, Palermo, Sicily Italy +39 091 616 1692 http://www.arcidiocesi.palermo.it
Excellent
77%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,631 reviews

Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (La Martorana)

This chapel is known for its superb gold Byzantium mosaics.

Reviewed By Jazzumbo - Campulung, Romania

Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (Church of the Admiral) was built about 900 years ago by Muslim constructors for an Orthodox Christian admiral – George of Antioch, who paid mosaic crafters from Constantinople to come to Palermo and decorate it with stunning Byzantine mosaics. One of the mosaics depicts George of Antioch praying to Virgin Mary, while another one shows the Norman King Roger of Sicily receiving the power and crown directly from Jesus. After the death of the admiral, the church became Catholic and starting from XVI century went under several transformations and restorations. Currently, some of the Byzantine mosaics, displaying messages in Greek language, are still visible near the Catholic frescoes painted in XVIII century, while the high altar is Baroque. Since George of Antioch was fluently speaking Arabic, there are also some Arabic inscriptions on two of the columns, so the mixture of styles and influences in this church is really mind-blowing.

9. Cattedrale di Palermo

Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 90040, Palermo, Sicily Italy +39 329 397 7513 [email protected] http://www.cattedrale.palermo.it/
Excellent
59%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8,166 reviews

Cattedrale di Palermo

This cathedral was started in 1185 by the norman archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio. You can visit the Royal and Imperial tomb of Frederik the II, the urn with the relics of the patron Saint of Palermo Santa Rosalia, plus a treasury with a precious medieval crown and a crypt from the VII century. The church is free to enter, there is a ticket to access the monumental area composed by royal tombs, treasury, crypt and the roof.

Reviewed By israroz - Ra'anana, Israel

The location of the large and impressive building of the Palermo Cathedral is the place where a basilica was built in early Christianity and with the Muslim conquest of Sicily on the ruins of the Basilica a Muslim mosque was built, many Muslim motifs have survived to date and can be seen in several places in the Cathedral. The cathedral is rich in exceptionally large and remarkably interesting variety of works of art from different historical periods. Roof climbing provides the climbers a wonderful rooftop views of Palermo. Sunset hours are highly recommended. “NOT 2 B MISSED”

10. Chiesa del Gesu

Piazza Casa Professa 1, 90134, Palermo, Sicily Italy +39 091 332213 http://www.casaprofessa.com
Excellent
78%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,250 reviews

Chiesa del Gesu

Reviewed By edinburgher2 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tucked away in a side street in old Palermo and in close proximity to Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria and Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (La Martorana) so very easy to visit all three. We didn’t visit the crypt or the museum, only paid the E2 to visit the church interior. Entering inside, expect one of these “jaw -dropping moments” as the interior is almost overwhelming. The more you look at individual carvings, the more detail you see and the skill of the carvers is obvious. Hours could be spent here. Cannot recommend this enough. The high ratings are totally justified.

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