Monreale

Monreale is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily, Southern Italy. It is located 310 meters above the sea level on the slope of Mount Caputo, a small promontory overlooking the valley of Palermo, from which it is approximately 7 km to the south. Wikipedia.

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Top attractions in Monreale

1. Cattedrale di Monreale

4.8

(28016)

Cathedral

Sights & Landmarks

Landmark Norman cathedral known for its ornate cloisters & bright gold mosaics of biblical stories.

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Magnificent church with stunning views! Definitely worth the visit compared to the Palermo Palace!! Only a short bus ride 15 min. from the Palace. Tickets for the bus were cheap - €2.80 for 2 round trip. Had really old church records that were cool. The ticket line was a bit long due to tour groups, but moved quickly.

Michael P — Google review

One of the Most Beautiful Churches I’ve Ever Visited Absolutely stunning! Be sure to get the full ticket – the view from the rooftop is breathtaking. It’s best to visit right when it opens, as it can get quite crowded later with large tour groups arriving by bus.

Bernd O — Google review

The Duomo di Monreale is one of the most extraordinary cathedrals I have ever visited — a true masterpiece of Norman architecture in Sicily. Located on a hill overlooking Palermo, the cathedral impresses from the moment you arrive with its majestic exterior and breathtaking panoramic views of the valley below. The interior is simply unforgettable. Every inch of the walls and ceilings is covered in magnificent golden mosaics, telling biblical stories with incredible artistry and precision. The image of Christ Pantocrator in the apse radiates a spiritual power that leaves a lasting impression. The combination of Norman, Byzantine, and Arab influences creates a unique and harmonious atmosphere that reflects Sicily’s rich cultural history. Don’t miss the cloister, a peaceful courtyard surrounded by elegant arches and beautifully carved columns — each one different, a true work of art. It’s a perfect place to take a quiet moment and admire the craftsmanship. Visiting Duomo di Monreale feels like stepping into another time. It’s not just a church; it’s a treasure of world heritage and one of the most remarkable places in Italy.

Maia M — Google review

Monreale’s Duomo is an architectural masterpiece, yet what truly makes the experience unforgettable is the atmosphere. Unlike the more heavily trafficked Palermo Cathedral, the Monreale Cathedral feels like its quiet, intensely spiritual twin. It’s significantly less crowded, allowing for a far more contemplative and local experience, where you often see more residents than tourists. If the Palermo Cathedral is a grand fortress, Monreale’s Duomo is a perfectly preserved jewel box. Its Arab-Norman architecture beautifully showcases the incredible fusion of cultures that defined 12th-century Sicily, a signature style shared with its counterpart in Palermo. The defining feature of the interior is, of course, the breathtaking, unified cycle of Byzantine gold mosaics. They shimmer with an ethereal light and tell Biblical stories across thousands of square meters, dominated by the majestic, compassionate figure of the Christ Pantocrator in the apse. Being able to view these mosaics without the crush of large tour groups is a privilege that truly enhances their impact. The experience here feels much more authentic and tied to the local community. The square outside, the adjacent cloisters with their intricate columns (another must-see), and the church itself feel like an active place of worship and local pride, rather than just a historic site. This sense of peace and intimacy makes Monreale an essential stop, providing a deeper connection to Sicily’s magnificent Norman heritage than you might find in the bustling city center. It’s a powerful experience for those looking for grandeur on a more human scale.

Halide E — Google review

An absolutely extraordinary cathedral and one of the most impressive churches I have ever visited. The Cathedral of Monreale is breathtaking from the moment you enter—every surface shines with golden mosaics, creating a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. The mix of light, color, and detail is simply spectacular. The interior feels like a fusion of cultures, where Norman, Byzantine, and Arab influences come together in perfect harmony. A bit of history & curiosities: • The cathedral was built in the 12th century by William II of Sicily, who wanted to create a monument that would rival the greatest churches of the Mediterranean. • It is famous for its 6,400 square meters of Byzantine mosaics, among the largest and most complete collections in the world. • At the center of the apse, the enormous Christ Pantocrator is one of the most iconic images in Christian art. • The architecture reflects Sicily’s multicultural history: Norman structure, Byzantine mosaics, and Arab decorative patterns all coexist in the same space. • The cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of Arab-Norman monuments in Palermo and Monreale.

Patrizia P — Google review

Stunningly beautiful Norman cathedral in Monreale, the birthplace of my wife’s grandmother and locale where her grandparents lived before emigrating to Rochester, NY in 1902. Wish we could have spent more time in Monreale, but we enjoyed seeing this wonderful cathedral. Definitely do the tower walk, worth the money.

David F — Google review

Absolutely a must to visit ,truly beautiful and a joy to walk around even if your not religious. Light airy resembles the ceilings of the Sistine chapel . Uplifting experience and real bird of paradise plants in the square.

Mickey M — Google review

This was an incredible place to visit. The outside of the building holds a beautiful exterior that is quite moving. We were blown away by it. It was also great to climb up onto the roof. Just note that if you are scared of heights or claustrophobic and/or not used to walking up and down steps you could struggle here. The parking was a bit of an experience but the total experience was worth it. We purchased tickets when we got there and there was no queue. Very recommended.

Ruth R — Google review

2. Cattedrale di Monreale

4.8

(28016)

Cathedral

Sights & Landmarks

Landmark Norman cathedral known for its ornate cloisters & bright gold mosaics of biblical stories.

Slide 1 of 8

Michael P — Google review

Bernd O — Google review

Maia M — Google review

Halide E — Google review

Patrizia P — Google review

David F — Google review

Mickey M — Google review

Ruth R — Google review

3. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele

Sights & Landmarks

Points of Interest & Landmarks

4. Laboratorio Mosaici Le Absidi

4.8

(23)

Museums

Art Galleries

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This is a must-see when traveling to Monreale. Beautiful ceramics and mosaics are crafted by the owners right before our eyes. Great artists and real art! Truly valuable items with soul!

Anna R — Google review

Incredible mosaic workshop, filled with gorgeous works of art

Teo C — Google review

The ceramics here are genuine art. Not garish or replicas of the same stuff. The artists also does fine mosaics. Great value for the quality.

Feyi A — Google review

Beautiful work at reasonable prices. Definitely worth a visit. The mosaic work is incredible and they have more typical Sicilian pottery at non-tourist prices.

Loren D — Google review

Beautiful ceramic art, worth going in even just for watching the artist at work or admiring the finished pieces.

Tania N — Google review

Lots of detailed and pretty mosaics and pottery

Pyrrhus G — Google review

Friendly, family-run shop with reasonable prices!

Saveria A — Google review

Absolutely the best mosaic shop in Monreale, right next to the cathedral ! Claudia and her father combine passion and love in what they do! A welcoming atmosphere, lots to see and stories to hear. A must-see if you come to Monreale!

Alex R — Google review

5. AcquaPark Monreale

3.7

(1684)

Amusement park

Water & Amusement Parks

Modest waterpark with slides, multiple pools, chaise lounges & an on-site restaurant.

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We are expats so this is the point of view we will give for this visit! We were worried after reading the reviews, but decided to go anyway because we noticed the reviews had a theme: either the lifeguards were enforcing the rules too much, or not enough AND the closure from 1-2pm. If you check the website it is written everywhere that the park is closed from 1-2pm, so just prepare accordingly. Go eat lunch, the time will go by! When you arrive there are different areas to park. You can pay for parking and be closer to the entrance (I am not sure of the price) or there’s a free parking lot in the back, with a short walk to the park… really hardly any different than the paid lots. We bought our tickets at the kiosk and it was a <5 minute wait. We arrived around 10:30am. You can also buy tickets online/the app, but we didn’t see the need for that. As for the park, it was an absolutely wonderful experience for our young family of three. We have a three year old and she loved it. There were two areas for her age specifically to play, and she could easily swim in the laguna pool with her floaties. It seems like you can bring whatever you want into the park: from floaty toys to food/drinks, coolers, and pool toys. If you don’t bring a lunch, they have many food options to choose from including a bar/caffe, a panineria with a summer deal of a sandwich, drink, and fries for €6, or self serve style where you pick what you want to eat. Items range from lasagna, to pizza, to chicken nuggets, to salad. These items have varying costs. There’s plenty of tables to eat indoors, and many games as well for the family to enjoy. There’s also a snack bar in a different part of the park as well with ice cream, chips, granite, and more! Costs for Umbrella & Chair were €3 per chair and €2 per umbrella. If you get your chair under the covered areas, no need to rent umbrellas. We didn’t know that, but were easily able to get a refund for the umbrellas. When you find the area that you want to sit, just give your chair tickets to a lifeguard and they grab the chairs for you 😄 there’s everything you need close to the different deck chair locations: bathrooms, changing rooms, and showers. Lockers are provided for free. We did put our phones and wallets in there, but the rest of our stuff we would leave with our deck chairs and never felt worried about anything. If you come for half day, umbrella and chairs are half price. If you are coming for the half price I would highly recommend arriving around 1:30/1:45pm so you have time to get everything set up, but aren’t waiting for the park to reopen. There is a swim cap available for €2 or €3 depending on your type preference. Yes, you do need to have and wear a swim cap. That’s also written on the website and everywhere at the park so they shouldn’t be getting bad reviews for that either, so silly! We went on a Saturday and it wasn’t too busy, but we went the day before busy season starts. Overall it was a really fun time for the whole family. Lifeguards weren’t always the most attentive, but people seemed to get mad at them when they enforced the rules to keep everyone safe… & ultimately, they were making sure everyone was safe so they were doing a great job! Everyone was really nice to us, we have no complaints. I also saw a complaint about the water cleanliness, but we did not encounter that! The water was clear and clean. If anything the chlorine was really strong, which isn’t a bad thing. My favorite part about the park was the beautiful location and view of the mountains. We will definitely come back. Pro Tip: DOWNLOAD THE APP! There are soooo many discounts available to make it affordable. We were able to get 2 for the price of 1! It cost €16 for our family of 3 to enter the park, and in total, with food, we spent €50 for the day! Would definitely recommend!

Marcella C — Google review

Terrible. We drove with the family from Mazara for an hour and a half, all for nothing. When we arrived, they told us that only the pool was open. But nowhere was this mentioned. It's a pity that you wasted our time and ruined our mood, especially since we had so little time to relax. I don't recommend anyone to go to a place with such terrible service. Good thing I didn't buy tickets in advance. Thank you

Яна — Google review

It so disappointing when your kids stays in the queue, and after 10/15 minutes someone is coming at you and gesticulate and you are so confused, because nobody speaks English, just one guy at the bar ,the problem it is that when you go inside y need a bracelet for your child authorization, a cap for swimming, nobody said anything... Anyway you still get a lot of fun

Elena M — Google review

Be careful, yesterday we drove 40 min to know, that this park doesn't work

Роман Ф — Google review

Good place for family bonding and affordable price👍.

Elger M — Google review

we arrived with the children at 13, paid for the entrance and then they tell us that we can’t swim now because they have lunch until 14, how to explain to the children that the Italians want to eat and closed all the slides?I have a bad impression of this aquapark

Марина В — Google review

We got there a little after 12. By the time we ate and got our chairs we had to pay for, it was about five minutes to one o'clock. We set out to go on some rides and they shut the whole park down for an hour so the lifeguards could eat lunch! Then after lunch, I tried to take my son on a ride, waited in line for 15 minutes while people kept cutting the line in front of lifeguards with no consequence. When we got to the front, they said my son needed a bracelet. This is the first time we heard anything about a bracelet. It took 20 minutes of walking around the whole park and three employees to finally figure out where to get the bracelet. Once we got there, I needed ID to fill out a liability waiver for him to get a bracelet. I was in a bathing suit! So we went back to the chairs and my wife took him to get the braclet because I was about to lose my temper. So finally at around 3 o'clock we started to go on rides. We finished all of them in an hour and left at 4:30 after some ice cream. Safety was of little to no concern of anyone who worked there. I saw at least three people get hurt in the short time we were there. All the slides we're pretty old and not very slippery. People kept getting stuck on them and had to push themselves down the rest of the way. 90 percent of the guests were total dirt bags who cut the line, didn't listen to the little bit of guidance from the "lifeguards" and spit in the pool. The bathrooms had no soap either. Don't go here. Find a better water park or just spray your kids with a hose. You'll be better off.

Jason M — Google review

Very outdated and backward place. Lifeguards stay on the phone all the time and pay no attention to the people in the pools. They are obnoxious too! At around 1pm everyone stops for lunch and I mean everyone. Lifeguards told us to get out of the pool as everyone is in dinning area to eat. When we walked in I felt like I’m in school again in lunch cafeteria! We had to line up to the buffet and eat in a big dinning room whether you want it or not. What a backward and outdated rule! The place is dirty and needs renowation ASAP!

Iwona — Google review

6. Diocesan Museum of Monreale

4.3

(58)

Museum

Art Museums

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This is worth a visit when in Palmero Sicily. The outside of the cathedral looks very plain and simple from the outside. Don't let the plain outside deceive you, it's amazingly beautiful inside. The interior is all done in mosaic, no paintings in here. The inside will amaze you.

Stephen A — Google review

Excellent museum... Well spaced out.. A bit confusing to follow but staff so helpful

J G — Google review

Beautiful place , one of them to must see. Love it and hopefully I will see it again.

Alicja M — Google review

There was an arrogant staff person who didn’t allow me to go to the cloister through the museum but instead forced me shouting to go to the exit. Despite that, if you’re considering to visit the museum, it’s worth it.

Kamil — Google review

It's many floor museum with very special Catholics paintings and other church things. Beautiful and big exposition

Mr Z — Google review

Unimpressive collection.

DAVID S — Google review

Just (very nice) church stuff. Not a lot of explanation.

Frank P — Google review

(Translated by Google) The Diocesan Museum of Monreale is a treasure trove of works of art. True to its unique mission as an ecclesiastical museum, representing the faith and devotion of the Diocese's people over time, the Museum exhibits works of art from the Diocese's historical and artistic heritage. The prized artifacts span a period from the 12th to the 20th century and include paintings on panel and canvas, sculptures, tapestries, textiles, sacred vestments, liturgical furnishings, precious Sicilian goldsmiths, and coral works. The exhibition focuses on chronological progression, to the extent possible within the exhibition space. The area leading to the Hall of San Placido houses the 'lapidarium' with marble artifacts from various parts of the Diocese. The great hall of San Placido, with access to the cloister, offers broad walls for large altarpieces and houses the magnificent tapestry depicting William's Dream. This iconographic theme is inextricably linked to the birth of the city of Monreale, both historically and religiously. Indeed, according to an ancient tradition, King William II, known as the Good, fell asleep under a carob tree during a hunting trip near the present-day city. The Virgin Mary appeared to him and showed him a treasure with which he would build a church dedicated to her, around which the city of Monreale would later arise. Displayed in special display cases along the walls of the hall, which ideally represent the sequence of the side altars, are several altar frontals of various types, crafted between the 17th and 18th centuries with polychrome silk, velvet, and silver. (Original) Il Museo Diocesano di Monreale è scrigno prezioso di opere d’arte. Il Museo, in linea con la vocazione peculiare di un museo ecclesiastico che rappresenta la fede e la devozione del popolo che afferisce alla Diocesi nel tempo, espone opere d’arte del patrimonio storico-artistico della Diocesi. I pregiati manufatti coprono una arco di tempo che va dal XII al XX secolo e consistono in dipinti su tavola e tela, sculture, arazzi, manufatti tessili, paramenti sacri, suppellettili liturgiche, preziosi prodotti di oreficeria siciliana e opere in corallo. Nel percorso è privilegiata la progressione cronologica, per quanto consentito dalla realtà degli spazi espositivi. L’ambiente che porta alla sala di San Placido ospita il ‘lapidarium’ con manufatti marmorei provenienti da diverse parti della Diocesi. La grande sala di San Placido, con accesso al chiostro, offre ampie pareti per le grandi pale d’altare e accoglie il grandioso arazzo raffigurante il Sogno di Guglielmo. Tale tema iconografico si lega indissolubilmente alla nascita della città di Monreale, sia sotto l’aspetto storico che religioso. Infatti, secondo un’antica tradizione, re Guglielmo II detto il Buono, durante una battuta di caccia nei pressi dell’attuale città, si addormentò sotto un albero di carrubo e, apparsa la Vergine, gli indicò un tesoro con il quale avrebbe costruito una Chiesa a Lei dedicata, intorno alla quale sarebbe poi sorta la città di Monreale. In apposite vetrine, poste alle pareti della sala, che ricompongono idealmente gli altari laterali in successione, sono esposti alcuni paliotti di diversa tipologia, realizzati tra il XVII e il XVIII secolo con sete policrome, velluto e argento.

Andrea C — Google review

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Access and edit your trips wherever you go — even without a connection.

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