"Climb up to the terrace of the Church of Santa Caterina to admire an unparalleled view of Palermo from above. On the ground floor, you’ll find I Segreti del Chiostro, a workshop specializing in sweets prepared according to old recipes by the Sicilian nuns." - Laura Itzkowitz
Laura Itzkowitz
Laura Itzkowitz is a freelance writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributi
It’s hard to beat the Convento di Santa Caterina for sweets. The convent housed cloistered nuns from 1311 to 2014. Since 2017, the cloister has been taken over by a group of professional baking women who make the most spectacular cassate and fill cannoli studded with ground pistachios. GO THERE.
Save your dessert stomach for the cafe inside the monastery! The cannoli are huge like a whole meal and they're incredible.
The church is beautiful, the facade was under construction so it was very easy to miss the entrance which was just a little sign pointing up a little doorway with a lift and some stairs.
Hubeiren
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The doorman wants to sell you €6 full packages ticket. You should only buy €2 ticket for church. The church decorations are marvelous. It’s totally worth any price.
Michael P.
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Incredible church! Very unique!! The marble inlays are incredible. Also, there was a pass-through turnstile for the nuns to provide things into the church.
Τάκης Χ.
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The monastery of Santa Caterina is the perfect option to start your day in palermo. There is garden with free access where you will find the bakery with the famous canoli and other local sweets. Apart from the garden you can get in the church, which I totally recommend and also go to the top of the church for the beautiful panoramic view of the city.
Jenny L.
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so beautiful place 🤍 we took tickets to see Church, Monastery and rooftop, really beautiful and peaceful place.
Good to see, and very tasty patisserie cafeteria inside after the tour 😜
Rodrigo S.
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Most beautiful church I encountered in Palermo. The stucco is beautiful and we enjoyed a lot our visit even with the church undergoing restoration works. Also, we’re delighted in trying some of the delicious deserts available for purchase in the dolceria
Andi
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Currently under construction, both from the inside and outside. Therefore you don't get to see it's entire beauty for 3€. If you buy the ticket for 8€ you can also visit the monastery.
The garden inside is really beautiful!
Thomas V.
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Great baroque church with 3€ entrance per person. It's still accessible except the altar area, which is covered with a high green fence. All of the paintings and decorations are available together with the fake remains of the Saint.