Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel

Museum · Palermo

Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel

Museum · Palermo

Piazza del Parlamento, 1, 90134 Palermo PA, Italy

Highlights

Discover the Palatine Chapel in the Palazzo dei Normanni, a stunning showcase of Byzantine mosaics and intricate architecture that captivates all who visit.

Piazza del Parlamento, 1, 90134 Palermo PA, Italy Get directions

federicosecondo.org

@travelleisure

"Also known as the Royal Palace, the Palazzo dei Normanni is the oldest royal residence in Europe. Now home to the Sicilian Parliament and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace is a resplendent example of Norman and Spanish architecture. The Cappella Palatina inside it glitters from top to bottom with gold Byzantine mosaics." - Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz is a freelance writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributi

How to Plan a Trip to Palermo, Italy

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@afar

"Cappella Palatina, Palermo, Sicily by Fabrizia Lanza Within the Palace of the Normans, there’s a chapel of the kings. “It’s sumptuous,” Fabrizia says, “all covered with mosaics. It’s like getting inside a golden box of jewelry.” Piazza del Parlamento 1 This story appeared in the January/February 2011 issue. By Afar Magazine"

A Week in Sicily

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The Essential Guide to Palermo

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David Frost

Google

The museum overall was smaller than we expected, with much of it closed off for renovations. However, the Palatine Chapal alone was worth admission. Beautiful, ancient art, all in mosaic. Moreover, the mixed Greek-Muslim-Norman style was a beauty to behold.

Owen McMullen

Google

Absolutely stunning. Perhaps the most beautiful church I've ever been too. Arab Norman architecture par excellence. Come early, so it's not so crowded.

Tim Gray

Google

Great combination visit with the chapel being the highlight but really busy in that small place with tour groups so you couldn't move freely around. When I visited there was a great little exhibition that included a video of how the roof of the chapel is constructed along with close ups of some of the artwork that you can't really see from the ground.

micke0817

Google

The Royal Palace, the Palatine Chapel and the Thesaurus Exhibition was a great experience. The golden mosaic in the chapel was breathtaking and is a must-see. Most of the second floor of the palace is off limits due to the regional chambers residing there but the Royal Apartments is also great to waych. In the basement was the Thesaurus exhibit with archeological findings from before the palace was built. You were able to walk above the ancient walls and ditches from the original city. To be able to see the actual city gate from the Roman and Punic era was giving me goosebumps.

Greg Luczyk

Google

The Chapel is an incredible work of art. It is filled with mosaic tiles and depictions of both Old and New Testament passages. It is a stunning chapel with various architectural styles. Portions of the ceilings are three dimensional wood carvings.

Philip Locke-Wheaton

Google

Exceptionally good visit. Well organised inside with bag and walk through security to start. Inside, you can go from ancient pre- Roman walls in the basement (under the Thesaurus exhibition) right up to the present parliament rooms above the most exquisitely decorated chapel. A lift is available on request for those with push chairs or have restricted mobility. I waited 5 minutes to get entry tickets at the ticket office in the park and again 5 minutes to enter the palace due to the bag and body check system. Use one of the hop on hop off buses or train to get to the palace area. I recommend the blue line coaches as the best ones to use.

Derrick Lee

Google

Did a tour around Palermo on one of those little trains not a bad way to see the place it was very busy but interesting.

Bea Eros

Google

It is very overpriced sorry but they r selling tickets for everyone just like that, no matter if they are with dogs..and NO DOGS ALLOWED in to entry. Bjy the ticket office is far from the Palace entry, ther r not communicating,also not saying to the ladies sorry no tickets as u r not allowed to entry (we jusr wittnessed, wasnt me but terrible to watch). Exhibition was not much, and the Palace is big,noce,lots of shine,gold, wealthy things but no history or anything written in English,just Italian(not understand why if tpurist come here the most). Staff was rude,almost everyone, even hardly lettuming us in some part,but we boight the full ticket..

@travelleisure

How to Plan a Trip to Palermo, Italy

View Postcard for Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel

@afar

A Week in Sicily

View Postcard for Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel

@afar

The Essential Guide to Palermo

View Postcard for Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel

David Frost

Google

Owen McMullen

Google

Absolutely stunning. Perhaps the most beautiful church I've ever been too. Arab Norman architecture par excellence. Come early, so it's not so crowded.

Tim Gray

Google

micke0817

Google

Greg Luczyk

Google

Philip Locke-Wheaton

Google

Derrick Lee

Google

Did a tour around Palermo on one of those little trains not a bad way to see the place it was very busy but interesting.

Bea Eros

Google