Mysteries of Palermo
-
Port
Palermo, Sicily, Italy
-
Activity Level
Strenuous
-
Excursion Type
City Tour,Local Sightseeing,All
-
Wheelchair Accessible
No
-
Starting At
$99.95
-
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
-
Duration
Approximately 3½ Hours
-
Meals Included
Meals not included
This excursion begins with a panoramic drive through Palermo, allowing you to admire its most beautiful monuments -- Teatro Politeama, Teatro Massimo, the Quattro Canti, the Royal Palace and Piazza Pretoria.
You'll then visit the impressive catacombs of the Capuchin Friars, where more than 8,000 mummified bodies of monks, noblemen and citizens are dressed in their original 15th-century clothes. The most disconcerting sight is the near-perfectly preserved body of Rosalia Lombardo, who died in 1920 at the tender age of two.
Your tour continues to the Oratory of Santa Cita, famous for the magnificent stucco work which adorns the interior. The stuccoes, executed by Giacomo Serpotta between 1688 and 1718, depict allegories, cherubs and the Mysteries of the Rosary.
A short walk takes you to the Oratory of the Rosario di San Domenico. The interiors of this small oratory are regarded as a masterpiece because of the beautiful stucco decoration executed by Giacomo Serpotta. On the walls are paintings by Pietro Novelli, Giacomo Lo Verde, Matthias Stomer and Luca Giordano depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Enjoy 15 minutes of free time before returning to the ship.
Notes:
Not suitable for children. Not advisable for guests with mobility limitations. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience. Due to city regulations, the area surrounding the Cathedral and the Four Corners is subject to traffic restrictions which may preclude seeing some highlights in the Old Town.