We will be in Palermo from December 29, 2024 (flight arrives @ 1:30) until January 2, 2025 (flight leaves @ 7:00 p.m.), so we might be able to fit in some sights after arrival and before departure. We will tour Palermo, Agrigento and maybe Cefalu and Monreale for day trips. We might rent a car to make getting to our sights easier. Our base will be in Palermo. I am wondering if a self-guided tour of Agrigento is acceptable or if we need to have a guided tour which is certainly more costly.
I am trying to find venues which are open on January 1. It looks as though Teatro Massimo is, but that will take less than an hour. I am also looking at Church of Santa Caterina and Church of La Marorana . However, I cannot find a site to purchase tickets for la Marorana. We would like to visit the Church of Santa Caterina, its dome and the terraces. On the Church of La Marorana site, the tickets are for
Palatina, Mura Puniche,Giardini and Palazzo dei Normanni (the Royal Palace of Palermo?) I have no idea what the Mura Puniche and Giardini are. Except for the Teatro Massimo and the Palermo No Mafia Tour, tickets can't be booked beyond the end of September, so I don't know if those sights will be open on January 1st.
Finally, we plan to take The Palermo No Mafia Tour on January 1st in the evening from 5:00 until 8:00. It was recommended here on the Forum a few years ago. Their website mentions the Teatro Massimo but not that the inside is included in their tour, so any help there would be appreciated, too.
I'm looking forward to the Forum's extensive knowledge. TIA.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1538 posts
Mura Puniche are the oldest walls, Giardini means gardens.
For what it's worth, here's our ideas of what to see in Palermo the next time we visit, but I don't know which are open on January 1st (or whether I've got everything spelled correctly) without googling:
Orto Botanico (Botanical Gardens)
Norman-Byzantine church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, Byzantine mosaics (also known as the Martorana)
Arab domes of San Cataldo
Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria
Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti + the cloister
Cuba Castle
Piazza della Vergogna (Square of Shame) = Baroque Pretoria fountain
Cathedral — great view of the city from roof.
Palazzo dei Normanni & its Palatine Chapel
Palazzo Abatellis art gallery — Triumph of Death fresco is here
Arab-Norman castle Ziza + Museum of Islamic Art
Camera delle Meraviglie (cobalt blue room covered in silver Arab inscriptions discovered in a private apartment)
Museo delle Maioliche Stanze al Genio — Torre – Piraino palace, 8 rooms of tiles + other cool stuff
Opera
Markets: Ballarò and Vucciria .
Posted by
OP
1015 posts
Thank you, Nancy. You've added to my curiosity and desire to see Palermo .
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2269 posts
When we did the No Mafia Tour in 2022 the meeting point was in front of Teatro Massimo. That tour didn’t go inside. We did do the English language tour of Teatro Massimo and quite enjoyed it.
Posted by
OP
1015 posts
Ah, good to know, Patty! I'll schedule a separate trip to Teatro Massimo, then.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden
949 posts
Hi there, I'm curious if you were in Palermo over NY 2024 and how was your trip. We're interested but after NY 2024 in Rome, which was completely jammed, are wondering about the the crowds over the holidays? And what did you do on January 1st? Thanks!
Posted by
OP
1015 posts
We are doing the No Mafia Tour which begins at 5:00 p.m on Jan. 1st. We are staying in an AirBnb and will ask the landlord about what to do and where to eat on Dec. 31st and Jan 1st. It also appears that Teatro Massimo is open on Jan. 1st. In the past when traveling, we've done laundry and just taken it easy.
I'm hoping those who are in the know about NYE and New Year's Day will offer their knowledge and experiences.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden
949 posts
Ah, sorry I thought you had already been to Palermo for Dec 23-Jan 24! NYE in Italy will mostly be set meals that are expensive, we usually have a nice big lunch and skip dinner except for perhaps a piece of take away pizza, frankly neither of us needs the fuss or expense of that NYE meal. Yes, definitely ask your host about where to go to eat easily during the holiday.
Posted by
OP
1015 posts
As long as there is take-away pizza, we'll be happy!
Posted by
NC
362 posts
We did a self-guided tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento at dusk. It was easily done, magical and, for us, a highlight of Sicily.
Posted by
OP
1015 posts
Thank you. We have tickets also that are self-guided. Glad to hear that it is also magical. We have tickets for before sunset and will stay until it is dark to get that perspective. We're planning to rent a car.