Europe
Italy
Sicily
Province of Palermo
Palermo
Places to visit in Palermo
Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati
See all things to do

Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati

See all things to do
See all things to do
Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati
4.5
#12 of 526 things to do in Palermo
Historic Sites
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Write a review
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Tribunali
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,592 within 5 kms
Divino in gusto alla Magione
154
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Pizza • Seafood
CuFu
566
0.2 km₹ • Bar • Cafe • Deli
MadoniEAT
212
0.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Healthy • Sicilian
Pablo’s Ristorante
409
0.1 km₹₹₹₹ • Italian • Sicilian • Vegetarian Friendly
Arancinando®
256
0.3 km₹ • Fast food • Mediterranean • Sicilian
Carizzi d'Amuri
1,280
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
Friggitoria Chiluzzo
375
0.3 km₹ • Italian • Fast food • Mediterranean
Sardina PastaBar
300
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
Ristorante Quattro Mani
685
0.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
L'Ottava Nota
1,285
0.2 km₹₹₹₹ • Italian • Sicilian • Vegetarian Friendly
See all
Attractions
514 within 10 kms
Affresco del Trionfo della morte
328
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Palazzo Butera
81
0.2 kmArchitectural Buildings • Art Museums
Palazzo Mirto
618
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
Giardino Garibaldi
354
84 mParks • Gardens
The Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum
235
0.1 kmSpeciality Museums
Palazzo Abatellis
409
0.2 kmSpeciality Museums
Piazza Marina
105
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Catena
93
0.1 kmHistoric Sites • Religious Sites
La Cala
91
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Museo del Vino e della Civilta' Contadina
23
99 mSpeciality Museums
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
839 reviews
Excellent
607
Very good
164
Average
42
Poor
16
Terrible
10
Bansteadfamily
Surrey, UK320 contributions
Worth a visit but read up about it first.
May 2023 • Couples
Having read previous reviews I wasn't expecting anything in English at all. As it happens our guide had quite good English and gave us quite a few details although not as many as he was giving to the Italian visitors. Best to assume it's a bit hit and miss. Although this is called the Inquisition museum it is less about the actual Inquisition and more about the evidence and artwork left behind by those imprisoned- still fascinating. And of course it's in a wonderfully ancient palazzo with it's own history. You can only go round by tour and the tours go hourly- you can check the website but take the info with a pinch of salt!
Still worth a visit.
Written 30 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ohifra
1 contribution
A beautiful place sabotaged by the staff
Apr 2023 • Friends
Went to see mainly the prison. But no, you have to buy a ticket for the visit of both buildings. Wanted to start the visit, but no, you have to wait for the beginning of the guided tour (every hour). The tour begins but only in Italian language! We had our private guide with us, so at the ticket office we had asked if he could accompany us and describe the place in English. They agreed and that's why we bought the tickets (6). We begin the visit following the group led by the ineffable guide at a distance (not to disturb), but no! The guide comes and tells us that we have to stay next to her group!
We left the place having seen only one room!
So if you want to see the place go at a time convenient for the organisation, speak and understand their language (Italian), make the visit at their pace, and don't ask questions.
So much for tourism policy!
Written 5 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paola M
7 contributions
Fascinating
Feb 2023 • Couples
This place was really fascinating! We had a “private” tour with Alessia and she was great!
I recommend this place as a must see in Palermo.
Written 3 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle P
1 contribution
An insult to a beautiful building.
Nov 2022
Judging by the number of 5* reviews people must have low expectations. This is a magnificent secular building full of displays, fine 14th century windows and courtyard and a 14th century ceiling to die for. Yet .... in under 40 minutes one is dragged around and informed at speed in a language that is not one's own, without an opportunity see, to observe, to be inspired, to delight, to seek and to love more of this building than a guide who cares little will allow - and that isn't much. You should spend your money on something else, perhaps as an offering to one of the beautiful, but poverty- stricken churches with which Palermo is blessed. If you wish to see this building go onto the internet and search for information and photographs. The setup here is a disgrace.
Written 8 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
plgarlepied
New Orleans, LA1,521 contributions
No English tours available at the box office on 9/22/22
Sep 2022 • Couples
Wasn’t sure how to rate this so I gave it average. We walked here today bc my guide book said they offer multilingual tours that depart hourly; to check the ticket office for the next departure…so we did. I asked the man in the booth about English tours & he said tours only in Italian. So I asked, “what about tomorrow?”…then the lady there (the guide?) said that we could go on any tour but they are all in Italian but that we could ask her questions & she could answer them in English for us. That really wasn’t what we wanted/expected so we just left. Hope this helps someone:)
Written 22 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil T
Australia259 contributions
Interesting but...
Sep 2022
The Guttuso mural/painting was the highlight for us. You can't get to see it unless you book an entire tour which only occur at certain times. Although the tour was billed as in English and Italian, it was 90% Italian. The prisoners graffiti was interesting but 4/5 rooms of it between many floors/stairs was tiresome. It was 30° the day we went.
Written 15 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dB
Palombara Sabina, Italy3 contributions
Fabulous tour of Palazzo Chiaromonte / Steri
Jul 2022 • Couples
What a remarkable place to visit. The history of the building and the drawings on the prison cell walls were brought to life by our brilliant guide Barbara. Very insightful stories with lots of humour. Very good value especially as one also gets to see the painting of Vucciria Market by Renato Guttuso. Highly recommend..
Written 2 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
691Horsemad
Zurich, Switzerland14 contributions
An absolute must when in Palermo
May 2022
I was lucky and got there early. I had my - excellent - guide, Antonio, to myself and spent an instructive 1 hour with him. Very knowledgeable and articulate guy! The Spanish Inquisition's prisoners' graffiti is very moving - and won't be around forever...
Written 23 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cristina
3 contributions
Palazzo Steri, a dive in Palermo's dark history
May 2022 • Family
It hosts an impressive Museum of the Inquisition where prisoners' cells are covered with rather disturbing ancient graffiti. It also hosts Guttuso's famous painting of the Vucciria market, a must for visitors of Palermo. Definitely worth going to see this less known site. The guided tours are also excellent.
Written 16 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Silvia L
1 contribution
Not worth 12 euro visit
Sep 2021
Really disappointing. You can't visit unguided. The tour was on a tight timed schedule. The poor guide was obviously stressed, had to try and give the tour in 3 languages and deal with a disabled person who had a different access points to the rest of us. The tour was 45 minutes for 12 euro which is expensive. Even though there is a lot of information available on the walls, there is no time to read it! And worst of all, they have imposed a 'son et lumiere' show over the famous Guttuso picture, so it is impossible to let the picture speak for itself or to appreciate it quietly. Really disappointing.
Written 19 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 118
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati (Palermo) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati
Hotels near Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati: View all hotels near Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati on Tripadvisor
Restaurants near Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati: View all restaurants near Palazzo Steri - Chiaramonte - Carcere dei penitenziati on Tripadvisor