Walking in Centro Storico is a marvellous experience. One day I visited Oratorio di San Lorenzo. A…read moresmall church with delicate ornaments and stucco. The altar was built up with different kinds of marble and must be considered as a piece of art. So was the whole church. To be present in a room like this with such a high concentration of man-made beauty is a great gift given to you. The people working here were all top motivated and very professional. Leaving a place like this feeling strengthened makes you feel grateful and yes... happy.

Chiesa del Gesù is a national monument of Italy. If it was placed in Rome we would all know about…read moreit. As a natural consequence of this it is one of the most important churches from the Baroque in Sicily. Built by the jesuits and their architect Tristano. The shape is that of a Latin cross. Richly decorated with polychrome marbles, stucco and frescoes. The marble reliefs with their figural and ornamental motifs on the pillars and the marble mosaics are unique. The impression on you visiting this church is a mighty thing. And the contrast to the surrounding streets and piazzas kind of hard to cope with. If only you could think of visiting one church in Palermo, beside the Doumo, this is the one.

This wonderful church is full of beautiful Italian Marble. The altars and many of the supporting…read moreareas are also made of marble. The main altar is stunning and has inlaid pieces in the front.The side altars each tell a story of an event that occurred many years ago. The first church was built on this site in 1280 and was later added on.The Church is the second most important church of Palermo after the ancient Cathedral. It is located in the Piazza San Domenico. The Church hosts the burials of many eminent figures of Sicilian history and culture. For this reason it is known as the "Pantheon of illustrious Sicilians". Well worth the time to visit.

In his hometown Giacomo Serpotta filled the walls of the Oratory of the Rosary of Santa Cita - with…read moreputti, cupids, angels, and Virtues. The true admirer of stucco reaches heaven. Excuse my language, but it is loaded with stories from the Bibel and elsewhere to such an extend that this revelation strikes you with its rich format and intensity. It is truly a creation of joy.Take plenty of time to ´read´ all the visual scenes. It is fascinating and mind opening. When you are back in the streets to take a glas of wine you shall not be surprised. Of what? Maybe that what you will remember the most is the alter piece. Could well be the finest piece of art in Palermo. Madonna del Rosario, painted in 1695 by Carlo Maratta. A painter considered the best in his time, honoured by the pope and the emporer. Personal taste is of no matter when visiting Palermo and its world of art. Five stars are not enough. This includes of course Oratorio del Rosario di Santa Cita, its full name.

Originally built as a Benedictine monastery and founded by Pope Gregory in 581, when Sicily was…read moreinvaded by Muslims in the 9th century, the monastery was destroyed and rebuilt as a mosque. And then in 1132, Norman King Roger II reconsecreated the mosque as a church. Disctinctive for the red domes at the top of the church, these are leftover homages to the Arab style. The church itself is a Latin Cross decorated with white bricks. Inside, much of the church is now greenery with tropical plants and trees. Entry is a minor €6 and is well worth it. You just can't see all of this from the outside. The garden is beautiful and the structure itself is very well preserved. There are some beautiful photos to be taken here. I'm really glad I learned about this place and if you're near the Palermo cathedral, make the walk to this church. You will not be disappointed. [Review 12827 overall, 142 of 2020.]

The Duomo Monreale is the main attraction in Monreale if you make it a destination point while…read moretraveling throughout the island. The Cathedral is located centrally in the small town of Monreale which is located on the slope of Monte Caputo about 12 miles outside of Palermo. The Cathedral is considered one of greatest existing examples of Norman architecture and is a national monument. It is beautifully preserved and the dome inside and the cloisters outside are especially beautiful. The church is not always open and is closed around lunchtime. Make sure to check the times it is open to the public to avoid waiting.

When we stopped in Sicily, we took the tour from Palermo to Monreale. We had no idea what was in…read morestore, but could've easily guessed that a large cathedral would be involved...and we weren't disappointed. Ha! The Duomo Monreale is another gorgeous cathedral on the side of a mountain. The tour bus drops you off at a lot below it and you have to walk up a small street with tourist trap shops on the way up to the cathedral. We ignored the shops and went directly to the cathedral so we could spend as much time inside. We were blown away at how beautiful this place was. Intricate art and finishes are all over the interior. How could there have been so many master craftsmen back then? What happened to this talent? Why do we make such crappy, uninspired buildings now? These are some of the many things I pondered while admiring the place. Overall, it was another solid monument to visit. Return Factor - 100%

Visited the Palermo Cathedral while in town and wow -- it's absolutely beautiful. The architecture…read moreand deep history are truly stunning, and its UNESCO status feels well-deserved. We wandered for a while and found plenty of great photo spots. Entry is paid, but worth it. Definitely a must-see when in Palermo. Saluti!

Beautiful! The interior, and the altars were amazing. There are crypts of two kings from the tenth…read moreand eleventh century there. The silver altar needs to be seen to be believed. This church is definitely worth the visit!

This breathtaking oratorio in Sicilian Baroque is a high light in beauty and style. It dates back…read moreto 1574. From that year and on it was decorated and worked on for more than hundred and fifty years. The great master of stucco, Giacomo Serpotta contributed magnifically and Anthony van Dyck painted the alterpiece, the most precious artwork in the oratorio. From my personal view the oratorio is a composition of elegance and harmony rarely seen. And not without humor. You laugh more than once watching the actions of the human like baby figures (putti) tumbling around. There a many buildings in Palermo with excellent stucco art. Nowhere so fulfilled and refined as in Oratorio Santa Rosario in Domenica.