In a nutshell

Costa introduces a new way to explore the city: a new experience offering the same quality, safety and duration as always, now reserved for small groups so as to best discover all the secrets of the city with your guide. An exclusive Palermo is what you’ll see from the rooftops, dominating the whole city. And by passing through alleys and squares amid surprising views, forbidden glances and stories lost in time you’ll discover that even in its most iconic locations the Cathedral, Quattro Canti, Ballarò, the tower of S. Nicolò, the church of Santa Caterina Palermo keeps many secrets from those who only see it from below. But you can only truly say that you know it after tasting the authentic Sicilian cannolo.

Main stops

Porta Nuova and Palazzo dei Normanni: external visit
Walk along the ancient street of the Cassaro
The Cathedral: internal visit
Tower of S. Nicolò: roof access for a panoramic view of the city
Stroll among the other symbols of the city: Ballarò, Piazza Bellini and the three churches, the Fountain of Shame, Quattro Canti
Church of S. Caterina: internal visit
Monastery of S. Caterina: internal and roof terrace visit; cannolo tasting in the cloister “dolceria”

The programme

Some cities keep their wonders under lock and key: in inner courtyards, aristocratic edifices, and private gardens. Palermo chooses instead to conceal them in plain sight: anyone can uncover them… so long as they can climb high enough!
In this exclusive experience, you can admire the city from its highest monuments, and discover the stories of the Palermitans of the past who could enjoy the same, incomparable view. Soldiers scanning the horizon, clockmakers studying time, nuns dreaming of freedom: all looking out from towers, balconies and roofs, to see the shrunken city below them.
Whether it’s the tower of S. Nicolò with its famous clock, or the secret balconies atop the cloistered convent of S. Caterina, the view will always be one to remember. As will tasting the cannolo at the convent “dolceria”, a shrine to the nuns’ historic art of confectionery.
And between one stop and another, you’ll pass all the unmissable locations of the historic center.

Good to know

Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience.
Wear suitable clothing for the places of worship you will be visiting.