Tourist attractions Bagheria

The district developed under Arab rule, around the citadel of the emir. It retains its Arabic name “ al haklisah ”, meaning “the chosen one, the pure one”, and its oriental atmosphere, emphasised by its Arab-Norman monuments. Centred on Piazza della ..

This private chapel is a Baroque masterpiece, attributed to Giacomo Serpotta . During your visit, you will be surrounded by putti , the small cherubim that were so dearly loved by Italian Baroque. The entire interior is sculpted in the stucco, to a..

The chapel is the masterpiece of Baroque sculptor Giacomo Serpotta who worked here from 1686 to 1718. Angels and joyful putti cavort with total liberty of movement and expression; playing, sleeping, crying, laughing, climbing up the window frames..

The finest work by Giacomo Serpotta (1656-1732). On the walls are scenes illustrating episodes from the life of Saint Francis (right hand side) and Saint Lawrence (left hand side), whose martyrdom is represented on the far wall. The upper sections of..

The chapel of the Norman palace is a magnificent construction, built by Roger II between 1130 and 1140. The building achieves a perfect combination of Saracen, Byzantine and Norman art, bearing witness to the Norman sovereigns’ tolerance towards othe..

The mosaics are the work of Venetian and Sicilian masters (12C and 13C). They tell the story of the divine plan of universal salvation, from the creation of the world and of man up to the intervention of God (central nave). The coming of Christ incar..

The cathedral was built in 1172 by William II, grandson of Roger II. It was built to rival the largest European cathedrals using the best workman and without stinting on materials. The end result? Luxury. Its exterior has superb motifs characteristic..

The great cloister is surrounded by a run of ogive arcades resting on fine twin columns and has encrusted multicoloured mosaics, inspired by the Orient. The Romanesque capitals are worth a visit by themselves. There are episodes from the Evangelist..

In a building by Carlo Scarpa (1950), which maximises the available light, the museum displays medieval paintings and sculpture (fine Triumph of Death fresco) plus a vast collection of Renaissance pictures (many Sicilian School works). Note the spl..

Those wishing to learn about this key aspect of Sicilian tradition should not miss this museum, which houses a fine collection of pupi , little traditional puppets representing Norman knights in armour. Visitors can also explore the wider world thro..

The story of this little church, which takes its name from Eloisa Martorana, the founder of the nearby Benedictine convent, begins in 1143. The Norman style used at the time of its construction is today somewhat concealed by the Baroque façade. The B..

San Cataldo was founded in the 12C. The domes, the claustra of the façade and its crenellated upper decoration bear witness to the survival of motifs from Arab architecture after the Norman conquest. The interior is very sparsely decorated. It is d..

A spectacular 16C fountain by Francesco Camilliani in the Tuscan Renaissance style is situated at the centre of this little square. A wrought iron balustrade by Giovanni Battista Basile runs around it. Beyond rises the profile of the dome of the ch..

Commissioned by Roger II (12C), San Giovanni degli Eremiti and its luxuriant garden is an oasis of freshness and tranquillity. One of Palermo’s most famous churches, it is a simple angular structure surmounted by five domes, evidence of the Arab know..

The Norman palace stands at the centre of a series of squares, in gardens laid out at the end of the 19C. Previously seat of the emir of Palermo, the old qsar was enlarged and improved by the Norman kings, then abandoned before being restored under..

The Royal apartments include the Hercules room (1560), where the Sicilian parliament sits, named after its huge frescoes by Giuseppe Velasquez (19C) representing the Twelve Labours of Hercules (only six are depicted); the atrium, central room of the ..

The catacombs are a macabre yet fascinating labyrinth where thousands of dessicated bodies of the city's inhabitants, dressed from head to toe with grimacing features and contorted postures, are exhibited. Hanging from the walls, they are protected b..

Visitors come upon this villa in the midst of its gigantic, magnificent garden . Built in 1886 in the Art Nouveau style for a wealthy industrialist, the villa was the ultimate symbol in terms of upper-middle-class lifestyle. Inside, the walls and ce..

Patagonia villa is the most famous Baroque villas in Bagheria. Built in 1715, it stands out partly for its concaved façade, but above all for the strange creatures encircling the perimeter wall that give the place a rather mysterious allure. The inte..

The typical little rose-coloured cupola that crowns the bell tower entrance could make it possible to date this church to 1070. It is said by others that it was built a century later. It's up to you what you decide!