For Half a Day

Monreale: Perched high up in the valley overlooking the golden Conca D'Oro, is the village of Monreale. People flock here to see the Duomo (built under William II after the Norman conquest of Sicily), whose beautiful gold mosaics (all 6337 sq m/68,220 sq ft of them) depict scenes from the Old and New Testament. From the imposing Christ Pantocrator, which dominates the apse area, to the narratives of the Creation in the nave, or the scenes from the life of Christ adorning the walls of the aisles and the transept, the mosaics cover every single square inch of the inside of the cathedral. The painted wooden ceiling is also worth noting, and so are the massive bronze doors, whose 42 panels depict as many biblical scenes (they are considered among the most important of medieval artefacts). The cloister attached to the cathedral is a beautiful enclosure surrounded by 216 double columns, every other one decorated in a unique glass mosaic pattern. The Duomo is located on Piazza del Duomo (tel: (091) 640 4413).

Santuario di Santa Rosalia: This grotto on Monte Pellegrino is dedicated to Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo. Rosalia (1130-1166) was the daughter of Count Sinibaldo della Quisquina. As a young woman, she abandoned her family's comfortable lifestyle and retreated here, where she lived as a hermit and dedicated her life to prayer.

For a Day

Erice: Erice (Eryx), a town with a delightful medieval ambience and splendid location, sits on high ground overlooking the northern coast of western Sicily. The oldest city in Sicily, it is encircled by well-preserved walls, and the two hilltop castles, Pepoli Castle (with foundations dating from Saracen times) and Venus Castle (dating from the Norman era) are what draw the crowds. The site is surrounded by a lush park and the town itself offers picturesque old stone streets and medieval churches.

Ustica: From Palermo, the island of Ustica, 40km (25 miles) to the north, is only a short ferry trip away. Here you will find fruit-tree plantations, artistic murals and great diving. The island's precipitous cliffs plunge between 50 and 80m (165 and 260ft) to the sea.

Cefalù: A town with steep streets, beaches and a towering Norman cathedral built at the request of Roger II, Cefalù is dwarfed by a huge rock face, La Rocca. Easily reached by train or coach, it is located 75km (46 miles) out of Palermo. Many of the restaurants and shops run along Corso Ruggero, the main street. The Museo Mandralisca (website: www.museomandralisca.it) is home to Antonello da Messina's Portrait of an Unknown Man. For views over the town and sea, hike up to the Tempio di Diana - a 5th-century temple.