PALERMO private tour: magnificent mixture of architectural styles (Unesco)

The walking tour starts from cathedral, was erected in 1185 and is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

The church was later turned into a mosque by the Saracens after their conquest of the city in the 9th century.  The medieval edifice had a basilica plan with three apses, of which only some minor architectural elements survive today.

The interior has a Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles divided by pilasters. In the first two chapels of the right aisle are the tomb of emperors and royal figures moved here in the 18th century from their original sites (mostly from the basilica itself). Here are the remains of Emperor Henry VI, his son Frederick II, as well as those of Peter II of Sicily. A Roman sarcophagus is the tomb of Constance of Aragon, Frederick’s wife. Under the mosaic baldachins are the tombs of Roger II, the first King of Sicily, and his daughter Constance.

The tour continues in Vittorio Emanuele street until Quattro Canti suqare (octagonal square), here you will see the Fontana Pretoria fountain built in 1544 The fountain included 48 statues and was surrounded by a long arbor formed by 90 columns of wood designed by Bartolomeo Ammannati.

After seeing the fountain, the guided tour continues towards the church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (also called Martorana). The church is characterized by a multiplicity of styles that meet, since, through the succession of centuries, it was enriched by various tastes in art, architecture and culture.

The original church was built in the form of a compact cross-in-square (“Greek cross plan”). The church is renowned for its 12th century mosaics executed by craftsmen working in the Byzantine style.

The mosaics show many iconographic and formal similarities to the roughly contemporary programs in the Cappella Palatina, in Monreale Cathedral, and in Cefalù Cathedral, although they were probably executed by a distinct atelie. The nave dome is occupied by the traditional byzantine image of Christ Pantokrator surrounded by the archangel saints, amazing!

Included:

• Walking tour with licensed tour guide

Not included:

• Church of Martorana tickets
• Royal Swabian tombs tickets (optional)
• Food and drinks
• Transfer service

What to bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Water
• Sun hat on hot days

Meeting point:

• In the center of the square in front of the cathedral entrance, next to the statue of Saint Rosalia