Ancient chapel in the Palazzo dei Normanni known for its elaborate Byzantine mosaics & paintings.
At a glance
#3 of 13 Museums in Palermo #6 of 26 Catholic churches in PalermoLocalGuideWorld score: 4.70
Rating breakdown
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5 ★84%
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4 ★10%
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3 ★2%
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2 ★1%
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1 ★2%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel?
- Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel is rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 15,828 reviews.
- How does Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel rank in Palermo?
- Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel is #3 of 13 Museums in Palermo by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel located?
- Piazza del Parlamento, 1, 90134 Palermo PA, Italy — 0.8 km from the center of Palermo.
- How can I contact Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel?
- Phone: +39 091 705 5611 · Website: federicosecondo.org
I am visiting it for the second time and for the second time I am impressed by the Palatine Chapel. One of the most impressive churches I have ever seen. We visited it at the end of December, there were not many tourists and we were able to enjoy the beauty of the mosaics and ceilings. The building is a mixture of Byzantine, Norman and Fatimid architectural styles, showing the tricultural state of Sicily in the 12th century. It took eight years to build, with the mosaics only partially completed by 1143. The sanctuary, dedicated to Saint Peter, resembles a domed basilica. It has three apses, as was common in Byzantine architecture, with six pointed arches (three on each side of the central nave) resting on recycled classical columns. The vaulted ceiling of the nave and the rectilinear shape of the chapel are impressive. The mosaics are fascinating with their brilliance and uniqueness. Unique!
We paid to do all four things and an extra 5 euros each for an audio tour, which I highly recommend. It took about 4 hours to see everything. A must do.
La chapelle est très belle, plus petite que j'imaginais, mais tellement à regarder!
Il est quasiment obligé de prendre un audio guide ( aucune explication dans la chapelle ou le pallazio) mais les commentaires sont longs, très descriptifs et au final on décroche... nous n avons pas été convaincus alors qu habituellement on apprecie les audio guides.
Globalement, c est biensur un incontournable mais le prix des billets est élevé ( 20€/ personne)
Il est quasiment obligé de prendre un audio guide ( aucune explication dans la chapelle ou le pallazio) mais les commentaires sont longs, très descriptifs et au final on décroche... nous n avons pas été convaincus alors qu habituellement on apprecie les audio guides.
Globalement, c est biensur un incontournable mais le prix des billets est élevé ( 20€/ personne)
Museum and royal garden is nice, but META Experience - temporary exhibition at Palazzo Reale is surprisingly awful and not worth visiting...
Spectacular golden mosaics in the Chapel. The apartments are ONLY open Friday-Sunday. Avoid at all costs the special multi-media exhibit which took us an hour in line for a 5 minute "experience. " An hour of our lives we will never get back.
Well worth a look if you are in Palermo The inside of the chapel is magnificent . Take a seat and view the mosaics and architecture.
Quite stunning
Quite stunning
Extrêmement cher, vraiment.
La chapelle est magnifique, mais c'est hors de prix pour les salaires "moyens".
Il y'a des réunions du conseil régional, ce qui clôt régulièrement des endroits normalement accessibles. Nous n'avons donc pu voir que le jardin botanique et la chapelle.. pour 40€ environ avec l'audio guide....
N'y vous rendez pas devant le musée sans avoir acheté vos billets, ils n'en vendent pas. Le guichet est à l'extérieur du musée. Sinon acheter vos places sur internet vous éviterez l'éventuelle attente.
La chapelle est magnifique, mais c'est hors de prix pour les salaires "moyens".
Il y'a des réunions du conseil régional, ce qui clôt régulièrement des endroits normalement accessibles. Nous n'avons donc pu voir que le jardin botanique et la chapelle.. pour 40€ environ avec l'audio guide....
N'y vous rendez pas devant le musée sans avoir acheté vos billets, ils n'en vendent pas. Le guichet est à l'extérieur du musée. Sinon acheter vos places sur internet vous éviterez l'éventuelle attente.
I visited it a couple of days ago and it was a bit of a mixed bag.
Firstly, the Palatine Chapel was an absolute gem. Mosaics are so marvellous and beautiful that I could have spent hours admiring the details.
On the flip side, the Royal Palace was a bit underwhelming and there wasn’t much to see.
The complex ticket for 20€ also included some strange artwork exhibition and the Royal garden which is nice but very small.
And another one fly in ointment - I had to pay for the toilet! Ok, 50 cents is not a big cost, but paying for the loo in the museum where I have already spent 20€ for the visit was a real nonsense for me.
In summary, I’d recommend to visit only the Palatine Chapel - it’s small but breathtaking.
Firstly, the Palatine Chapel was an absolute gem. Mosaics are so marvellous and beautiful that I could have spent hours admiring the details.
On the flip side, the Royal Palace was a bit underwhelming and there wasn’t much to see.
The complex ticket for 20€ also included some strange artwork exhibition and the Royal garden which is nice but very small.
And another one fly in ointment - I had to pay for the toilet! Ok, 50 cents is not a big cost, but paying for the loo in the museum where I have already spent 20€ for the visit was a real nonsense for me.
In summary, I’d recommend to visit only the Palatine Chapel - it’s small but breathtaking.
Entry is free. The interior is not incredibly beautiful and unique, but I'd suggest getting the roof ticket, it is worth the €7,(2023). The exterior architecture is amazing.
Royal palace and chapel near the cathedral. Stunning chapel inside to visit, an art gallery, small museum and gardens. The palace apartments (higher price ticket) were closed when we visited which made the visit a bit shorter. There's a Cafe in the gardens which is nice but compact. €30 for two adults, child free, but found it a little short for the price. Surprised that there's a charge of ¢50 to use the toilet. We held on. Ok but a little underwhelming.
Very small church, but probably the most beautiful I saw in my life. You'll be able to get here with palace tickets, and, probably, it's the only worth visiting place in the whole palace. Ceiling is beautiful and so unusual, mosaics are marvelous and, obviously, a lot and a lot of gold around. Real masterpiece.
Great chapel, the rooms are ok, once you’ve seen one old mansion they all look the same.
But the fact the ticket is as much as MoMA and you still have to pay (coins, no contactless) to go to the loo is shocking. I’ve already paid a premium to look at the awful art of Omar Hassan and not be allowed to sit in the Palatine Chapel. They also sell every type of trash in the shop but no water while it’s 48C outside, you also can’t refill water bottles; it’s as if they want you to get heat stroke.
You feel like you’re walking around a money making scheme instead of a space to enjoy history. Makes you wonder who the organised criminals are in Sicily, the mafia or the local government.
But the fact the ticket is as much as MoMA and you still have to pay (coins, no contactless) to go to the loo is shocking. I’ve already paid a premium to look at the awful art of Omar Hassan and not be allowed to sit in the Palatine Chapel. They also sell every type of trash in the shop but no water while it’s 48C outside, you also can’t refill water bottles; it’s as if they want you to get heat stroke.
You feel like you’re walking around a money making scheme instead of a space to enjoy history. Makes you wonder who the organised criminals are in Sicily, the mafia or the local government.
Chapel and was absolutely blown away by the beauty of the architecture and decor. The intricate details and grandeur of the palace and chapel are truly breathtaking, and I highly recommend a visit to anyone in the area.
However, I was disappointed to find out that the toilet facilities were not free. While I understand that maintenance and upkeep costs money, it would have been nice to have been informed of this beforehand, or for there to be a more affordable option available.
Despite this minor inconvenience, the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel are a must-see for anyone interested in history, art, or architecture. The stunning beauty of the site is truly worth the visit.
However, I was disappointed to find out that the toilet facilities were not free. While I understand that maintenance and upkeep costs money, it would have been nice to have been informed of this beforehand, or for there to be a more affordable option available.
Despite this minor inconvenience, the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel are a must-see for anyone interested in history, art, or architecture. The stunning beauty of the site is truly worth the visit.
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