Nestled in the shadow of the castle, picturesque Piazza Duomo is home to this 11th-century cathedral dedicated to St George. Remodelled twice (in 1477 and 1614), the cathedral has a striking medallion of St George and the Dragon above its central portal, along with Francesco Laurana's lovely carvings of the Madonna con bambino e angeli (Madonna with Child and Angels) and Santi Pietro e Paolo (Sts Peter and Paul) in the sacristy.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
22.64 MILES
Inspired by a vision of the Virgin and determined to outdo his grandfather Roger II, who was responsible for the cathedral in Cefalù and the Cappella…
20.84 MILES
Designed by Roger II in 1130, this extraordinary chapel is Palermo's top tourist attraction. Located on the middle level of Palazzo dei Normanni's three…
20.85 MILES
Home to Sicily's regional parliament, this venerable palace dates back to the 9th century. However, it owes its current look (and name) to a major Norman…
20.89 MILES
A feast of geometric patterns, ziggurat crenellations, maiolica cupolas and blind arches, Palermo's cathedral has suffered aesthetically from multiple…
21.2 MILES
Cefalù's cathedral is one of the jewels in Sicily's Arab-Norman crown, only equalled in magnificence by the Cattedrale di Monreale and Palermo's Cappella…
Galleria Regionale della Sicilia
20.32 MILES
Housed in the stately 15th-century Palazzo Abatellis, this art museum – widely regarded as Palermo's best – showcases works by Sicilian artists dating…
Chiesa e Monastero di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
20.64 MILES
Built as a hospice in the early 14th century and transformed into a Dominican convent the following century, this monastic complex wows with its…
21.08 MILES
Taking over 20 years to complete, Palermo's neoclassical opera house is the largest in Italy and the second-largest in Europe. The closing scene of The…
Nearby Tyrrhenian Coast attractions
0.07 MILES
Originally constructed by the Normans in the 11th century, Caccamo's clifftop castle is one of the most dramatically sited in all of Sicily. Beyond the…
2. Museo del Motorismo Siciliano e della Targa Florio
4.26 MILES
This unique museum is a labour of love for owner-founder Nuccio Salemi, whose amazing collection of original sports cars from the famed Targa Florio race…
9.42 MILES
Founded in 648 BC by Greeks from Zankle (now Messina), the ruined city of Himera is rather disappointing compared with other Greek sites around Sicily…
4. Area Archeologica di Solunto
13.12 MILES
About 20km east of Palermo are the partially excavated remains of the Hellenistic Roman town of Solunto, founded in the 4th century BC on the site of an…
13.98 MILES
Occupying an 18th-century villa in Bagheria, 13km east of Palermo, this wonderful, little-known museum of modern art claims numerous paintings by Sicily's…
15.15 MILES
This unique little museum displays photographs and memorabilia documenting the Targa Florio, the world's oldest sports-car racing event. Established by…
17.29 MILES
Near the village of Vallelunga, this is one of five wine-producing estates owned by the Tasca d'Almerita family, with some 400 hectares of vineyards, a…
19.93 MILES
Sicilians regularly make pilgrimages to pray at this elaborately decorated baroque shrine to the Virgin Mary. During the church's consecration on 17…