A weekend in Monreale: a perfect gateway in the very heart of Sicily

You’ve finally planned your dream vacation in the stunning Sicily - sunshine, sea, delicious food, and, most importantly, a deep dive into the culture and centuries-old history of this magnificent island. But beyond the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the crystal-clear waters of Favignana, the silhouettes of the Aeolian Islands on the horizon, and the picturesque alleyways of Palermo, there are lesser-known gems that are truly worth discovering: Monreale is undoubtedly one of them.

Just a stone’s throw from Palermo, this town with Arab-Norman origins is an unmissable destination if you’re spending your holidays in the Sicilian capital. It’s a treasure chest hiding countless wonders that you may not yet know — so why not plan a weekend getaway here? Discover our guide to a fabulous weekend in Monreale.

A truly immersive vacation takes time, which is why spending an entire weekend, rather than just half a day, while exploring a city is an excellent idea. To truly absorb the essence of Monreale, Sicily, you’ll need more than just a few hours. Often seen as a quick side trip from Palermo, our invitation is to slow down and enjoy your stay without worrying about the clock — just like we Italians do during our leisure time.

Founded during the Norman domain in the 12th century by King William II, Monreale quickly became a pilgrimage destination due to the presence of the Benedictine abbey and its famous cathedral, the Duomo. Later, it came under the rule of various peoples, such as the Arabs and Goths, and this is why you can admire a striking mix of architectural styles in its buildings — a truly unique and evocative blend not to be missed.

To uncover the beauty of this stunning town, keep reading our guide for a weekend gateway in Monreale, where we’ll show you what to see on a Saturday and Sunday.

- Day 1, Friday: arrival in Monreale; walk through the historic center, visit to the cathedral and cloisters  

- Day 2, Saturday: walk to the Belvedere, visit to the pottery stores, visit to the Multimedia Museum

- Day 3, Sunday: trekking along the Sant'Elia River

Coming from Palermo airport, you'll reach Monreale to spend your weekend in just 20 minutes by car.

Let’s start our weekend in Monreale trip with a walk through the historic center. As soon as we get there, we can’t miss a typical culinary experience: the classic combo of granita and “brioche col tuppo”. So we sit down at one of the many cafés in the center and enjoy a traditional Sicilian breakfast.

After our yummy pit stop, let’s get enchanted by the beauty of the squares and alleys bathed in morning light. You’ll immediately notice the mix of architectural styles, from Norman to Baroque, Neoclassical to Moorish, that drive us in an exotic and evocative atmosphere. We spend the morning wandering the old city center, looking up at the buildings, snapping photos, and letting time pass by in the relaxed spirit of a flâneur.

After our long exploratory walk, it’s time to refuel and there’s no better way than enjoying some of Sicily’s most beloved specialties, like rice arancine (here's feminine) or the delicious pasta alla Norma, packed with eggplant and ricotta salata cheese. A must-try is Monreale’s bread: a crispy baguette-like loaf with a soft center, covered in sesame seeds, a nod to its Arabic heritage. The original version can be savored at the historic Forno Litria, a local institution.

Full and happy, let’s head to Monreale’s most iconic monument: the Cathedral (Duomo), one of Italy’s most beautiful churches and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Built by order of King William II in 1174, this magnificent structure, also known as Santa Maria La Nova, was a symbol of the king’s rivalry with nearby Palermo, whose cathedral he aimed to outshine. According to legend, however, it was the Virgin Mary herself who commissioned the project. Over the centuries, the Duomo religious importance grew, drawing pilgrims from far and wide.

The current appearance of the Duomo is the result of numerous renovations throughout the ages, representing the various people that have ruled the region. Its façade is remarkable: flanked by two bell towers, it features a neoclassical portico with columns and an upper part richly decorated with stained-glass windows. The front and also the back, with its Middle Eastern flair, is a clear testament to Sicily’s Arab domain and is well worth admiring.

Inside, the cathedral is just as breathtaking, adorned with golden mosaics and Byzantine-style frescoes.

Don’t miss a visit to the adjacent Benedictine cloister, a peaceful corner featuring inlaid golden columns and the gentle sound of a central fountain.

The afternoon has flown by, and the sun is setting: it’s time to enjoy twilight with a glass of Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s famous red wine, and a rich aperitif of cold cuts, cheeses, and local delicacies. We end our first day with a nighttime stroll through Monreale, when the city takes on magical, romantic hues.

The afternoon has flown by, and the sun is setting: it’s time to enjoy twilight with a glass of Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s famous red wine, and a rich aperitif of cold cuts, cheeses, and local delicacies. We end our first day with a nighttime stroll through Monreale, when the city takes on magical, romantic hues.

On our second day we wake up early and enjoy another delicious breakfast with granita and brioche col tuppo, perfect for dunking, before heading to one of Monreale’s most scenic spots. Within the abbey complex lies the Villa del Belvedere, a beautiful and peaceful park surrounded by greenery that offers a panoramic view of the breathtaking Conca d’Oro.

In the shade of majestic magnolia fig trees, we can admire the vast plain on which the metropolitan city of Palermo rests, nestled between the mountains and the blue line of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The name “Conca d’Oro”, golden valley, refers to the lush vegetation once covering this area, a vast expanse of citrus groves and the opulence of patrician Roman villas once found here. 

We then continue our walk to discover another local treasure: potteries. Monreale is home to many handmade workshops and master ceramicists who handcraft stunning ceramics, potteries, majolica and terracotta pieces, later hand-painted. These make wonderful souvenirs, like the famous teste di moro.

Here, new generations of artisans are also trained to carry on this ancient art, still today a symbol of elegance and creative flair. For this reason, Monreale is also known as the “city of potteries and mosaics.”

At lunchtime, we sample further local delights, such as pane e panelle with potato croquettes and the classic S-shaped cookies covered in icing.

Once recharged, we visited the Multimedia Museum, known as the Museo della Fabbrica di Guglielmo, located in Piazza Guglielmo II. This 1,500-square-meter exhibition includes interactive screens that tell the story of Monreale’s origins, history, and evolution. It also houses archaeological finds and valuable objects once belonging to the royal families that ruled Sicily.

In addition to the museum, a digital tool, the Visit Monreale app, has been created to help visitors learn more about the past and present of the town, offering all the essential tourist information at your fingertips.

The sun is down and we'd like to enjoy a delicious dish of pasta with sardines, accompanied by a glass of Syrah, another Sicilian fine wine.

After dinner, if we’re lucky, we might catch one of Monreale’s many local festivals, such as Grisì in Festa (in the neighborhood of the same name), the Feast of Saint Martin, the local patron, or the Sagra del Pane (Bread Festival).

But the most important celebration is undoubtedly the Festa del Ss. Crocifisso, held in May. This event features lights, market stalls, marching bands, and a traditional procession from the Collegiata, the Church of the Holy Savior, led by white-clad worshippers. This sacred moment unites the community and allows visitors to truly immerse themselves in the local spirit.

For the last day of our weekend in Monreale we explore the surrounding nature. Around the town, there are many interesting routes for a walk in the green and trails of various levels for hiking enthusiasts.

We wake up very calmly and after a hearty breakfast we start a very easy walk, even for those who generally do not practice trekking, which will take us to peaceful and relaxing places where we can breathe clean air.

We take our car and move to the suburb of Pioppo, about 6 km outside the center of Monreale. On the way we will coast along the Sant'Elia River, which in past centuries was the main water resource of the area and allowed the various mills to operate, while today, with its natural puddles, it makes it possible to cool off on the hottest days. On the way, which is about 3 km long, we encounter the beautiful local flora and a series of small jumps made by the river, in which, with a bit of luck, we can spot frogs and adorable tortoises.

We finally reach the river's main waterfall, the Naca Nica (in Sicilian it means “little cradle”), which provides a truly impressive view for wonderful photos while we dip our feet into the water. At this point we stop for a relaxing picnic before taking our way back and heading toward Palermo.

Monreale is generally a recommended destination for a half-day trip just outside Palermo, one stop among many on the tour of the beauty of the Sicilian capital. What we wanted to suggest in this guide, however, allows you to reevaluate this beautiful town, where the attractions can easily fill an entire weekend.

And as with Monreale, many other small towns in our beautiful country are rather underrated and lend themselves to more than just a few hour walks. Carving out two or three days to visit small towns and villages off the big circuits allows one to enjoy their beauty and really enjoy the time one spends there: a mode of travel to be rediscovered, the slow and relaxing one, truly revolutionary in this frenetic age bent on social-media logic.