Historic palaces in Palermo

Palermo's historic palaces run from Norman royal residences to 19th-century villas. The Norman Palace, now the seat of the Sicilian Parliament, holds the Cappella Palatina, lined with gold mosaics. West of the old town, the Zisa and La Cuba were pleasure palaces built for the Norman kings by Arab craftsmen. In the Kalsa, Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri is a 14th-century palace that later housed the Inquisition, and its cells still carry the prisoners' graffiti. Palazzo Conte Federico is still lived in by the family, who often show visitors round themselves. To the north, the Palazzina Cinese was the Bourbons' Chinese-style retreat on the edge of La Favorita park.

The Zisa and La Cuba lie outside the historic centre; the planner shows whether they fit into a walk.