5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Monreale, Sicily

Tucked away in the mountains that form the backdrop of Palermo sits the small town of Monreale. Monreale is famous for its cathedral, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our visit to Monreale took place on our final day in Sicily. After more than two weeks road tripping around the island, Tim and I were tempted to skip Monreale and spend the day at the spa or a nearby beach instead.

However, we heard wonderful things about Monreale’s cathedral and didn’t want to miss it. And what a great decision that was.

The Monreale Cathedral is exquisite. It is not only one of Sicily’s finest treasures, but it also ranks among one of the most stunning cathedrals in Italy.

In this guide, explore Monreale and its extraordinary cathedral in photos and learn why this charming town is well worth a few hours of your time while in Sicily.

Table of Contents

5 Reasons Why Monreale is Worth a Visit

1. To Visit One of Sicily’s Most Beautiful Cathedrals

We have visited a lot of cathedrals in Europe and this one is awe-inspiring.

Construction began in 1174 and was completed just 8 years later, in 1182. The cathedral is a beautiful blend of Norman, Byzantine, and Arabic styles.

Once you step inside, be prepared to be amazed. Intricate golden mosaics that illustrate biblical scenes cover the walls, archways, and the apse of the cathedral. These mosaics cover 6,340 square meters of the cathedral, making it the largest mosaic decoration in Italy.

The painted ceiling, immense organ, and inlaid mosaic-tiled floors add to the overall beauty of the cathedral.

Things to See & Do at the Monreale Cathedral

There is more to do than just visit the interior of the cathedral. You can also walk the upper, outdoor terraces, see the side chapels, and visit the museum.

The Roano Chapel

This small chapel, also called the Chapel of the Crucifix, requires an additional fee to enter. It’s worth it!

This small chapel was built at the request of Spanish archbishop Giovanni Roano. It contains a crucifix where the image of Jesus is nailed to the Tree of Jesse. The entire chapel is carved from mixed marble, with inlays and decorations showing cherubs, monsters, flora and fauna. Also in the chapel are statues of the prophets Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah.

The chapel is rather small but it is easy to lose track of time in here as there is so much to see. The graceful curves of the marble curtains and the intricate craftsmanship are a sight to behold.

The Cathedral Terraces

For sweeping views of Palermo and a unique view of the interior of the cathedral, add on the upper terraces to your cathedral visit.

From the cathedral floor, climb up 71 stone steps to the first outdoor terrace, where you get a view overlooking the Benedictine Cloister.

Following the one-way route, you’ll walk through a narrow tunnel, passing by windows with views into the nave. From this elevated position, you get a much different view of the cathedral than from the cathedral floor.

At the back of the church, another stair climb (Tim counted another 81 steps here) takes you to the highest point of the cathedral terraces. From here, enjoy the panoramic view of Palermo.

The route continues around the cathedral, with views over Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and the Triton Fountain.

The Diocesan Museum

This museum contains three floors of religious art and artifacts.

Monreale Ticket Options

When we did this in November 2024, there were three ticket options for visiting the Monreale Cathedral.

Duomo and Cloister: €10 Visit the interior of the Monreale Cathedral and the Cloister of the Benedictines.
Cloister of the Benedictines: €7 Skip the cathedral and just visit the cloister.
Full Ticket: €13 Monreale Cathedral interior, Cloister of the Benedictines, the Roano Chapel, the terraces, and the Diocesan Museum.

Purchasing the full ticket is absolutely worth the extra 3 euros, as it gives you access to the terraces and Roano Chapel.

At the time that I am writing this guide, I cannot find an online website with updated pricing, but you can get hours of operation here. The COOP Culture website has information about the cathedral but the pricing is not up-to-date.

Italy Travel Guide

See all of our articles

2. To Photograph the Benedictine Cloister

The Benedictine Cloister is located next to the cathedral. It was built in the 12^th century in a Norman-Arab style.

The columns are beautifully decorated, with inlaid mosaics and intricately carved capitals that depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

A visit here lasts anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how much time you spend viewing (and photographing) the columns and capitals.

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the cloister and you can buy a combined ticket to also visit the Monreale Cathedral.

3. A Visit to Monreale Takes Just a Few Hours of Your Time

Monreale is a tiny town. The cathedral and the cloister form the centerpiece in town and you will spend most of your time here.

It’s also worth it to see Triton’s Fountain in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, which is located next to the cathedral, and walking around to the back of the cathedral to see the uniquely carved walls.

Radiating out from the cathedral are side streets lined with cafes, shops, and restaurants.

Behind the cathedral is a very small shop selling artwork made from mosaics. It’s the perfect place to purchase a souvenir from Monreale and support a local artist.

4. For Beautiful Views Over Palermo

To get a sweeping view of Palermo, climb the steps to the terraces of the cathedral for panoramic views of the city.

5. The Scenic Drive to Get Here

Monreale is located in the mountains near Palermo. To get here from Palermo, it is a windy, curving drive through these mountains.

If you are following our two week Sicily itinerary, you will drive to Monreale from Castellammare del Golfo. This is a very scenic drive through the mountains of northwest Sicily and we loved the views of the hillside towns and coastline off in the distance.

How to Visit Monreale

To visit the cathedral, the cloister, and have a bite to eat or do a little shopping, plan on spending 2 to 3 hours in Monreale.

Before leaving Monreale, we ate lunch at La Bodeguita dei Sapori. On the menu are sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie boards, as well as wine and coffee. I had the Monreale sandwich, which is focaccia, Sicilian cured ham, Ragusano cheese, figs, and Modena vinegar glaze and it was fantastic. Tim opted for the the meat and cheese board (tagliere).

Getting Here by Car

If you have a rental car, Monreale can be visited as a day trip from Palermo, Castellammare del Golfo, and Trapani.

We visited Monreale from Castellammare del Golfo. It is a 50-minute drive from this coastal town.

PARKING: The best place to park is at Parcheggi Pubblici Monreale. This is a gated, paid parking lot. From here, you will climb a series of steps (Tim counted 93) to get up into town. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the cathedral.

Getting Here by Bus

From Palermo, take bus 109 from the Palermo Central Railway Station to Piazza Indipendenza. Change to bus 389. Learn more here.

Getting Here by Tour

This tour from Palermo includes Monreale and Cefalù (a beautiful coastal city that is located east of Palermo).

On this private tour from Palermo, visit both the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo and Monreale.

So, I hope this inspired you to add Monreale onto your trip to Sicily! If you have any questions or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.

More Sicily & Italy Travel Guides