Things to Do at Palazzo dei Normanni

The Palazzo dei Normanni, or Norman Palace, is actually one of Europe's oldest royal residences and arguably Palermo's most fascinating historical site. What makes it genuinely remarkable isn't just its age - though parts date back to the 9th century - but the way it embodies Sicily's complex layered history. You'll find Arab foundations, Norman additions, and Spanish modifications all woven together in a building that's been continuously occupied by rulers for over a thousand years. It currently houses the Sicilian Regional Assembly, which means you're visiting a working government building that happens to be an extraordinary historical monument. The palace's crown jewel is undoubtedly the Palatine Chapel, which many consider one of the most beautiful examples of Arab-Norman art in existence. The chapel's golden mosaics and intricate wooden ceiling create an almost otherworldly atmosphere that tends to leave visitors genuinely speechless.

The palace sits in Palermo's historic center, just ten minutes uphill from the cathedral. Bus lines 104 or 105 run from the train station, though the twenty-minute walk through old town beats cramped public transport. Total win either way. You'll find the entrance on Piazza Indipendenza-the signs from main streets make it easy to spot. Parking around here is brutal, so ditch your car near the port or cathedral and walk up. The area wasn't built for cars anyway.