Photos: Dr. G.W. Allyn (1845-1921) (Internet Archive Book Images), Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Fintan Corrigan of http://friendly-hotels.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Dr. G.W. Allyn (1845-1921) (Internet Archive Book Images), Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Fintan Corrigan of http://friendly-hotels.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Norman Palace and its hidden gold mosaics
Your local guide
Agata Vitale
View profile
Highlights
- A palace used as a seat of power for centuries
- Gold mosaics described in close detail
- Byzantine art explained scene by scene
- A courtyard with a thousand years of history
- Unusual workmanship for its era
About this tour
This session covers the Norman Palace from the outside, then describes in detail the gold mosaics of the Cappella Palatina inside, since the chapel's interior cannot be filmed. You see the palace's long exterior and courtyard while hearing a close, specific account of what the mosaics show. The camera stays in the public courtyard throughout.
I start with the exterior and its long history as a seat of power, then move to the courtyard for the description of the chapel. I answer questions throughout and send a short list of the main mosaic scenes afterwards for anyone who wants to see them described further.
It suits anyone interested in Byzantine art who cannot film inside the chapel directly. It also works well as preparation before a closer visit to the palace itself.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
-
Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Palermo before heading out.
-
The palace exterior 21 min
The camera holds on the palace's long facade, and I explain how it has served as a royal residence, then a seat of government, for close to a thousand years.
-
The courtyard 21 min
From the courtyard, I describe the Cappella Palatina's gold mosaics in detail, since the interior cannot be filmed, focusing on specific scenes and what makes the workmanship unusual for its time.
-
Your questions 9 min
Time to ask anything about Palermo: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
-
A short list to keep 4 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Cannoli and Kalsa, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Rome time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 9 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Palermo, showing you The palace exterior and The courtyard live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need any background in art?
No. The guide explains what matters as you go, whatever you already know or do not.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Palermo live with my phone.
Times shown in Rome time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Reviews appear here after travellers have completed this tour.
How reviews work
Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Mon 23 Nov · 9 seats left From 27,00 €
Book