Palermo & Monreale for Solo Travellers
Holiday Highlights
- Enjoy a guided tour of the medieval and Baroque old town of Palermo, home to many UNESCO-listed sites
- Visit the stunning Norman Palace, a renowned World Heritage site
- Marvel at the spectacular gold and glass mosaics of Monreale cathedral on a guided tour
- Return flights from a selection of regional airports, with hotel transfers
- Three nights in four-star accommodation inclusive of all local taxes, with breakfast daily, two dinners including a welcome dinner, and your tour manager’s drinks reception to meet your fellow travellers
- The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout
- Selected departures up to November 2019
What's Included
- The price of this holiday is per person based on sole occupancy of a double room. The price includes three nights’ accommodation with breakfast and two dinners, including a welcome dinner and drinks on the first night, all tours as mentioned, airport departure taxes, all local accommodation taxes, transfers and the services of a Riviera Travel tour manager.
Itinerary
Day 1
You will be met by a member of the Riviera Travel team before your flight to Palermo. On arrival we transfer by coach to the four-star Cristal Palace Hotel in the historic centre of Palermo. The hotel is located on Via Roma, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, along with many restaurants, shops and important buildings such as the Politeama theatre. Settle in before joining your tour manager this evening for an informal welcome drinks reception, followed by a three-course dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, where you will meet your fellow travellers and have the opportunity to get to know them.
Day 2
After breakfast, an expert local guide takes us on a walking tour through Palermo’s old town to unravel the mysteries of yesteryear and understand what makes this captivating island tick. The capital city of Sicily, Palermo came under the rule of the Saracens and Normans, and grew into one of the most important cities in Europe. There are some incredible monuments here, most from before 1861 when Sicily was an independent kingdom – you’ll love the elaborately decorated churches and tiny timeless squares. We’ll visit the Norman Palace, undoubtedly the jewel of Palermo and Europe’s most dazzling court during the Middle Ages. A stronghold in later centuries, it is now occupied by the Sicilian government. During our visit we’ll see the large Carthaginian foundations, while the royal church upstairs, which is covered in some of the finest gold mosaics in existence, is Palermo’s undisputed artistic gem. You are free this afternoon to explore under your own steam. The spectacular upper walls of the Oratory of the Rosary of Santa Cita are filled with beautifully detailed stucco statues of angels and cherubs, all watching over the chapel below. For a closer look at Sicilian history, the archaeological museum boasts one of the richest collections of Greek and Phoenician art in Italy. Perhaps explore one of Palermo’s bustling street markets. A trip through Il Capo, the main food market, is a treat for the senses: narrow medieval streets are flanked by rows of stalls groaning under the weight of a rainbow array of fresh produce, from tart Sicilian lemons and delicate saffron to prized tuna. Ballarò market is more universal in its offerings and twice as busy – locals say if you can’t find it in Ballarò then you don’t need it! From Sant’Anna Square, follow your nose to Lattarini, the atmospheric old Arab spice market where the local Sicilian language reigns and the modern world seems to have little influence. This evening, you can dine at leisure at one of the many restaurants near your hotel with some of your travelling companions, or take an optional street food tour to sample the local specialities. See our Personalise Your Holiday box for details.
4* Ibis Styles Palermo Cristal - Palermo
The hotel is located on Via Roma, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, along with many restaurants, shops and important buildings such as the Politeama theatre.