Palermo Morning or Afternoon Street Food Walking Tour

Capo Market: the soul of old Palermo

Capo Market is one of Palermo's historic street markets, stretching through narrow lanes in the old Seralcadio quarter just behind Teatro Massimo. Its roots go back to the Arab period of Sicily, and it still feels like a North African souk: stalls under colourful awnings piled with tomatoes, lemons, aubergines, wild fennel, olives, spices and fresh fish on ice, while vendors call out their prices in a sing-song style called abbanniata.

On the morning tour you walk through the market with your guide, who explains the produce and the traditions behind Sicilian cooking. The market is open only in the morning, which is why it is part of the morning option only. Capo Market opening hours run from early morning until early afternoon, Monday to Saturday, so a morning visit catches it at its busiest and most colourful.

Palermo street food: what you taste

Palermo is often called one of the world's great street food cities, and its snacks tell the story of the island's many cultures. Arancine are golden fried rice balls stuffed with meat ragù or butter and cheese; panelle are thin fritters of chickpea flour; crocchè are soft potato croquettes; and sfincione is a thick, soft pizza topped with tomato, onion, breadcrumbs and oregano. Some tours also include pani ca meusa, the traditional spleen sandwich.

Tastings vary with the season and the day, and your guide explains where each dish comes from and how locals eat it. The tour ends on a sweet note with a classic Sicilian dessert. Drinks are not included, but water and soft drinks are easy to buy along the way. Vegetarian options can be arranged when you tell us at booking; the tour is not suitable for vegans or people with gluten or lactose intolerance.

Teatro Massimo

Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Opened in 1897 after more than twenty years of construction, it stands on a wide square with a grand neoclassical facade, a wide flight of steps guarded by bronze lions and a huge dome. It marks the boundary between the old town and the nineteenth-century city.

On the walk you pass the theatre and hear about its history and its place in Palermo's cultural life. If you want to see the gilded interior and the famous auditorium, Teatro Massimo tours are a great addition to your stay, and we also offer a guided theatre visit on our site.

Palermo Cathedral and the Cassaro

Palermo Cathedral is one of the city's great monuments, founded in 1185 and later enlarged, combining Norman, Arab, Gothic and Baroque elements. Its exterior, with pointed arches, Islamic-style decoration and slender towers, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Arab-Norman Palermo. Inside lie the royal tombs of Sicily's medieval rulers.

The cathedral stands on the Cassaro, the city's oldest street, today called Via Vittorio Emanuele, which runs from the sea towards the Norman Palace. Walking along it with your guide, you see palaces, churches and small food shops side by side and hear how the street was the backbone of the city for more than two thousand years.

Quattro Canti

Quattro Canti, the Four Corners, is the Baroque crossroads at the centre of Palermo where the Cassaro meets Via Maqueda. Built in the early seventeenth century, its four curved facades are decorated in three levels with fountains representing the four seasons, statues of Spanish kings who ruled Sicily, and the four patron saints of the city's old quarters.

The square divides the historic centre into four quarters, each with its own market and character, which makes it the perfect place for your guide to explain how the city is organised. It is busy and lively at every hour, and one of the best photo spots on any Palermo walking tour.