Here are the Three Treasures Open for You every Week

Thanks to the commitment of its volunteer members, the Touring Club Italiano – Palermo makes places of art and culture alive and accessible throughout Italy through the “Open for You” initiative. In Palermo, this initiative turns into a unique opportunity to discover three authentic treasures normally closed to the public.

Church of Santa Maria in Valverde

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Coming to Palermo and not seeing the cathedral is like going to Rome and not visiting the Colosseum. This religious building, completed in 1185, is immense and over the centuries has been influenced by different cultures: Christian, Saracen and Norman.

Church of San Giorgio dei Genovesi

The Church of San Giorgio dei Genovesi, located in the heart of the historic center of Palermo in the La Loggia neighborhood near La Cala, has a rich and fascinating history. Founded in 1424 as the seat of the Confraternity of San Luca, the current building was built between 1576 and 1596 by the architect Giorgio Di Faccio, a symbol of the economic importance of the Genoese in the city in the 16th century. The church, built between the city exit gate and the new port pier, represented the banking and mercantile supremacy of the Genoese. Its architecture and frescoes testify to the cosmopolitan influence of Palermo in the Renaissance. Used as a film set by Pier Paolo Pasolini in 1963, today the church hosts temporary exhibitions after a period of inactivity, thus helping to keep its history and cultural importance alive.

Palatine Chapel and Norman Palace

Of notable interest is the Palatine Chapel and Palazzo dei Normanni from the years 1130-1140, located in the sumptuous Palazzo dei Normanni; The church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti from 1132, located near the Royal Palace, an example of Arab-Norman architecture.