Palermo On a Rainy Day: 8 Things To Do

Palermo is a lovely place to visit for so many reasons. You can head to this city to see modern art, to enjoy access to historic sites like the Bell Tower and various small church locations, and you might also have come to Palermo Sicily to enjoy delicious food and delightful wine. If you have come to the city during the winter months, it might rain during your trip, but never fear! Rainy days are a great excuse to see some of the sites that you might otherwise miss out on when the weather is more favorable.

No matter what the weather is like when you visit Palermo, you will need to be sure that you take care of your luggage correctly when you arrive in the city. Getting your luggage into secure storage in Palermo will make your overall trip much more enjoyable and stress-free. Once your luggage is stored, you will have the peace of mind to enjoy what Palermo Sicily has to offer around every corner!

There are so many things to do and see in this beautiful city, and once you have your hands free, you will have so much fun taking them all in!

Palermo On a Rainy Day

Whether you love to go shopping or to museums, there are so many things to do in Palermo that can be done 0ut of the weather. You will have tons of fun in this city even if the weather is less than ideal. Best of all, the overall weather in this part of Italy is quite mild all year long, so you will only be inconvenienced a little bit by rain during your trip. Making sure that you have a light jacket with you will help you to be comfortable as you go from place to place when there is rain to contend with and you will be able to be indoors for much of the day with ease in the heart of the city.

Making sure that you save your tours of the Norman palace and the other historical sites in the heart of the city for when the weather is bad is a perfect plan. Most of the things that you will want to see in the middle of the oldest part of the city are quite close together and easily accessed with short walks between locations. You won't have to search around for the places that you want to see in this part of the city since they are all stacked together in largely the same area.

Palazzo Conte Federico

This location is right by the Cathedral, the Norman Palace, and the Market Ballaro. This residence is still owned and cared for by Count Frederico and his family, and they are willing to give you a ground floor, personal guided tour of the house when you stop by. This is a great rainy day adventure if you love modern and classical art and you want to see a beautiful historic mansion in the heart of the city. You will be treated to vintage pieces of art as well as lovely hand-painted ceilings and furniture from the 15th century when you visit this stunning location. It takes about an hour to see this spot and you will be impressed at the small entrance fee as well.

Getting in out of the rain is easy here, and when the weather is bad, you can easily spend an hour in this lovely home getting a personal tour of an unusual home that is still being maintained and lived in by one of the city's oldest families.

Norman Palace

The Norman Palace is a lovely spot in the city and you can head here to see how the Kings under the Hauteville Dynasty lived. Today it is the seat of the regional assembly in this part of Italy, but it was once the opulent home of the royal family when they were in residence in the city. The beautiful wall ceramic tiles and the lovely art that is housed in this palace are well worth stopping to see and you will be amazed at the hand-painted ceilings and the beautiful sculptures and paintings that are stored here.

This is also the highest point in the city, which makes it a great place to take pictures and gain a vantage point on Palermo from a bird's eye view. The Palazzo Dei Normanni dates back to the 9th century, and the much smaller original palace is indicated in the center of the larger and more modern building that exists today. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Italy and you will not regret taking the time to stop here during your trip.

Museum of Tiles Stanze al Genio

You will need a reservation to have a tour of this spot, but you can often book your tickets later in the day on surprise rainy days and still get to see this location. This is one of the best museums in Palermo and is a real gem inside. Check out the ceramic tiles and old furniture on display here. This is a really unique location to learn about the history of the city and the tour guides who work here are very good at their jobs. This is not a modern art museum or a palace, but it does show you a lot about the history of art and culture in the city through its own unique medium.

Tiles and mosaic art are a huge part of the art and architecture of this historical city and you will be able to see tiles and designs from various eras of the city represented in this collection. There are few places in Italy where mosaic and tile arts are so well preserved and this is a great place to head if you want to get to see all of the various styles of this form of architectural art.

Church of San Cataldo

This church is small, but it is very old and you will want to take the time to step in out of the rain and check it out. Built during the 1100s, this church dates back to the Norman period in this part of the world which makes it special. There are few sites, even in Italy, where the Norman occupation of the country is so clearly felt, and this is one of the sites that makes it quite clear what the Normans stood for and valued.

The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre maintained this church and worshipped here and the feeling of the church is very unique due to this fact. This is a really important part of the city and one that you should stop by to see even if you have other plans in the heart of the city.

Teatro Massimo

One of the oldest, biggest, and most beautiful theaters in this part of the world, this is a great choice for you to enjoy during a rainy day in Sicily. Dedicated to Victor Emanuel II, one of the kings of Palermo, this theater is well-known for its perfect acoustics. Catching a performance here will give you a really authentic experience that you cannot enjoy in other parts of the world and if there is a musical event going on at this location, you need to put this on your rainy weather list during your stay.

The location itself is just as impressive as the acoustics, and you will enjoy everything about your stop at this Sicilian location that is rich in history.

Cattedrale di Palermo

This cathedral was begun in the late 11oos and it is one of the most interesting cathedrals in all of Italy. This spot is the home of the imperial tomb of Frederick II, and you can also see the urn that is said to hold the remains of the patron saint of the city, Santa Rosalia. The church itself is free to enter, but you will need to pay to see the tomb area, the crypts, and the places that are deeper inside the church. This is a great choice when you want to avoid the rain, and everything that lies inside is worth a visit.

For those who love a little bit of creepy history, the crypts here are a lot of fun and should be on your must-do list. Italy is one of the countries where this kind of historical experience can be accessed and many people include crypt locations in their rainy day plans no matter where they are planning to visit.

Church and Monastery of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria

This church is part of the monastery in the city. The monastery was fully operational from the mid-1100s to 2o14! Since 2017, the site has been open as a museum and you can visit the absolutely stunning church nave which is full of artistic paintings, gold-leaf, and fantastical architecture. You can also take a guided tour to learn more about the monastery and its history. There is a delicious confectionary that operates inside the church and you will want to make sure that you enjoy a tasty treat and some cappuccino while you are inside the museum.

This location is unique because it was actually the residence of nuns and not male religious devotees as many people assume. The history of this place positively shines through and you will have a really immersive experience here that you will enjoy from start to finish.

Chiesa Inferiore della Cappella Palatina

This spot is technically part of the Norman Palace and you will be able to choose to visit it on its own, or as part of your tour of the palace itself. This part of the palace is also a Unesco World Heritage Site and you will gain access to some of the best-preserved Byzantine art and paintings anywhere in Italy. The gold-leaf and beautiful Byzantine art here is very impressive and you will love to peruse the intricate mosaics as well as hand-painted walls that are covered in vivid murals. If you love art, this is an excellent option for your rainy day plans.

Byzantine art is rare, even in Italy, and you will love being able to see such colorful and well-preserved examples of it. There are so few places where this kind of art is still in this excellent condition, and if you are a student of history, this is a great place to put on your list of things to do when the weather is not cooperating.

Conclusion

When you visit Palermo, Sicily, you will not be slowed down by a few rainy days during your stay. Make sure that you store your luggage properly at the Palermo Airport, or in another location in the city, and you will have the time of your life while you are staying here. This city is a real gem in this part of Italy, and there are so many things to do and see in Palermo that you would not have access to in other parts of Europe. This is a very welcoming city and there are always enjoyable things cropping up to see and do in each small square and around every corner.

Don't let the rain get you down during your stay! Use the rainy days as an excuse to go indoors and see some of the most historical things that this city has to offer! And if history starts to get a bit old, there are fantastic shopping opportunities throughout the city. From the Norman Palace to Byzantine art and Norman churches, this city is full of amazing things to do indoors when the weather is not perfect.