Private Small-Group Walking Tour of Palermo's Kalsa District

Part punic, part phoenician, part Roman, part Arab: there is no doubt the city of Palermo has an exciting background.

Kalsa, from the Arabic al- Halisah that means 'Elected', was the fortified citadel during the Islamic domination of Palermo, seat of the emir and his ministers.

There were Mediterranean gardens, fragrant flowers and fountains of fresh water. In the centuries following the Arabian domination, the district has witnessed a lot of transformations: the fortification walls and the gardens have been eliminated, new roads have been opened and new palaces and beautiful baroque churches have been built.

Despite its renewed look, the Kalsa has maintained the charm and an atmosphere charged with mystery. Your expert local guide will tell you about the many curiosities and legends which surround it.

Walking through the narrow and winding streets of the district and through some alleyways of Islamic origin, you will enter into a new dimension: here the city’s chaos and noises are cancelled, cars disappear almost completely and time is suspended. The route that crosses the Kalsa district allows you to discover medieval architectures, baroque churches, large open spaces and lonely little squares that open suddenly in front of the Mediterranean sea; be fascinated by the histories and legend of this neighbourhood.

The visit of the Abatellis palace, the S. Lorenzo oratory and the S. Francesco square are just amazing. Get ready for an unforgettable Sicilian experience.