Vincenzo Florio Apartment

On the slopes of Mount Caputo, a stone’s throw from Palermo lies the Norman town of Monreale. A wonderful place full of history, like an open-air museum. What makes it famous and recognisable is certainly its majestic cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria la Nova, in Arab-Norman style.
The second most important Byzantine work in the world and part of the Unesco heritage. The town is built around this jewel, and it is interesting to walk through its streets and note how different ethnic groups contributed to its enrichment; such as Arabs, Byzantines, Normans and Spaniards.
Adjacent to the cathedral is the monastery of San Benedetto, just a few steps away is the diocesan museum with its frescoes, and its great highlight is the belvedere over the entire valley of the ‘Conca d’oro’, a magical view of the city of Palermo and surrounding areas.

Just a few steps from Palermo is Bagheria. Known historically as one of the most popular destinations for noble families for their summer holidays. This is why it is called ‘the city of villas’;
Today, in fact, the main attractions include a considerable number of villas in majestic Baroque style. The natural and unspoilt landscape offers the possibility of spending unforgettable days at the seaside, accessing picturesque coves or purely maritime locations such as the Bay of the French, Capo Zafferano, Porticello, Sant’Elia and Aspra.

Castelbuono is one of the most beautiful villages on the island, thanks to its strategic location and the perfect combination of art and nature. Of Byzantine origin, it has countless priceless historical buildings. Strolling through the streets of the centre, one can see the different types of architecture linked to the change of ethnic groups, and the emerging talent of young artists is highly valued by dedicating special galleries to them. The central square is dominated by the large Old Matrix Church, with its Gothic bell tower, a place of great curiosity. Rising inland and being part of the Madonie Park, the surrounding nature makes the air fresh and pleasant and offers a great quality of life.

Il Cretto di Burri is one of the largest and most extraordinary works of land art in Europe, created by Alberto Burri in Sicily, in the province of Trapani, located on Gibellina Vecchia. The latter, razed to the ground after the severe Belice earthquake in 1968, was commemorated by creating this majestic and memorable work of art that is out of the ordinary in its appearance and functionality. The work faithfully replicates the routes of the original plan of the town, so that visitors can walk step by step through the memories of a place now historically lost.