Updated in October 2026, this Palazzo Conte Federico guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, transport, parking, accessibility and what to see.
Palazzo Conte Federico is a historic noble palace in the old town of Palermo, Sicily. The Federico family still lives there and leads the guided tours. The official site says no reservation is needed, but you can book through Viator to secure a place in advance. As of October 2026, the official site lists tours from 11:00 to 14:00, not until 16:00 as older guides state.
Quick facts for Palazzo Conte Federico
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Piazza Conte Federico 2, 90134 Palermo, Italy |
| Tours | Daily at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 |
| Closed | Wednesdays, and 24 and 25 October |
| Reservation | Not required according to the official site, but take that with a pinch of salt in high season. |
| Admission | Tickets start from €15 per person |
| Tour length | About 45 minutesto one hour |
| Languages | English and Italian. |
| Nearest transit | About 10 minutes’ walk from Palermo Centrale station |
| Typical visit | About one hour |
| Phone | +39 091 651 1881 |
Why book Palazzo Conte Federico tickets?
- 🏛️ A family home, not a museum: Members of the Federico family live in the palace and lead the tour.
- 🗼 A 12th-century Arab-Norman tower: The Scrigno Tower is the oldest part of the palace and the tour includes it.
- 🎨 Frescoes and painted ceilings: You see 18th-century frescoes by Vito D’Anna and Gaspare Serenario and 17th-century painted wooden ceilings.
- 🎟️ A secured place: Walk-up entry is accepted, but advance booking holds your date and time, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- 📍 A central location: The palace is a short walk from the cathedral, the Palatine Chapel and Ballarò Market.
Ticket prices for Palazzo Conte Federico – and how to book
The official site states that reservations are not required, so you can join a tour on the day. Tickets are not bookable through the official site, so go through a trusted third party such as Viator.
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Viator advance ticket (adult) | From €15 per person | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Mobile ticket accepted |
| Viator child ticket | Discounted | Listed for ages 8 to 15. The price shows at checkout |
For a guaranteed place, book on Viator.
Opening hours for Palazzo Conte Federico
The official page was last modified on 19 September 2026. Guided tours leave on the hour from 11:00 to 14:00. Each tour lasts about 45 minutes, so most visits finish by about 15:00. No weekday or weekend difference is listed.
| Day | Guided tours |
|---|---|
| Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday | 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| 24 and 25 October | Closed |
There are often reduced winter tours between January and March, so contact the palace before you travel in those months.
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How to get to Palazzo Conte Federico
The palace stands between Piazza Conte Federico and Via dei Biscottari in the old town. On foot, it is about 10 minutes from Palermo Centrale station and a few metres from the cathedral and Ballarò Market. By bus, the AMAT lines 104, 105 and 109 serve the Palazzo dei Normanni and Piazza Indipendenza stop. The palace is within walking distance of that stop. Visitors say the entrance can be hard to spot, so allow a few extra minutes.
Parking at Palazzo Conte Federico
The official site lists no parking. Much of the historic centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) monitored by cameras. Check the city’s current ZTL hours before you drive in. The nearest paid car park to the Palazzo dei Normanni area is at Piazza Indipendenza. Public transport or a walk from the station is easier.
How long to spend at Palazzo Conte Federico
The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and Viator lists up to one hour. Allow one hour in total, plus a few minutes to find the entrance and join your tour.
Accessibility at Palazzo Conte Federico
The tour is not wheelchair accessible. The visit climbs a grand red marble staircase to the main floor, and the official site mentions no lift. Visitors report that you need to manage stairs. Contact the palace in advance if you have limited mobility.
What to see at Palazzo Conte Federico
The courtyard and staircase. The inner courtyard has carved stone decoration by the Baroque architect Venanzio Marvuglia. A grand red marble staircase leads up to the main floor.
The main floor halls. The halls keep original furniture and paintings by artists of the time. Each hall reflects a different era in the palace’s history.
The painted ceilings and frescoes. Look up for the 17th-century painted wooden ceilings. The 18th-century frescoes are by Vito D’Anna and Gaspare Serenario.
The weapons and ceramics. The official site lists collections of weapons and antique ceramics among the main floor’s contents.
The Scrigno Tower. The 12th-century Arab-Norman tower is the oldest part of the palace. Its windows include a Norman mullioned window and an Aragonese window with the coats of arms of Palermo, the Swabians and the Aragonese.
The Busuemi Gate. The palace incorporates an ancient city gateway, known in Arabic as Bab el Soudan. The gate once stood beside an arm of the sea that entered the city.
The family tour. A member of the Federico family guides each visit. The Federico line descends from Federico d’Antiochia, a son of Emperor Frederick II, and Count Alessandro Federico still lives in the palace.
Practical visitor tips for Palazzo Conte Federico
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive a few minutes early | Tours leave on the hour from 11:00 to 14:00 and the 14:00 tour is the last of the day. |
| Book if your plans are fixed | Walk-up entry is accepted, but advance booking is recommended if you have a cruise stop or a tight itinerary. |
| Check the closure dates | The palace is closed on Wednesdays and on 24 and 25 October. |
| Wear comfortable shoes | The visit includes a marble staircase and the stairs of an old palace. |
| Pair it with the Palatine Chapel and the cathedral | Most tours finish by about 15:00, which leaves the afternoon free. Both sights are within walking distance. |
Frequently asked questions about Palazzo Conte Federico
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need to book Palazzo Conte Federico in advance? | No. The official site says reservations are not required. If you want a secured place, you can book tickets in advance through Viator. |
| Which days is the palace closed? | It is closed on Wednesdays and on 24 and 25 October. Check the official site before you travel for any other closures. |
| What time is the last tour? | The last tour starts at 14:00 according to the official site. Some older guides list tours until 16:00. |
| How much does a ticket cost? | Viator tickets start from €15. |
| Is the palace accessible for wheelchair users? | The tour as not wheelchair accessible, and the main floor is reached by a staircase. Contact the palace if you have limited mobility. |
Things to do near Palazzo Conte Federico
Palermo Cathedral is a few metres away, and it is part of the UNESCO-listed Arab-Norman route through Palermo.
The Palazzo dei Normanni is the Norman royal palace and contains the Palatine Chapel, within walking distance of the palazzo.
Ballarò Market is the old-town street market, just a few metres from the palace.
The Quattro Canti is the baroque crossroads at the heart of Palermo, about 300 metres away.
Teatro Massimo is Palermo’s opera house, and you can reach it on foot from the old town.
Alternatives to Palazzo Conte Federico
Palazzo Conte Federico is a rare lived-in noble palace, so close matches are limited. The options below are other historic buildings within about two hours’ travel.
Villa Palagonia in Bagheria is the baroque “Villa of Monsters”, about 15 kilometres from Palermo. It opens in two sessions each day, so check the hours before you go.
Monreale Cathedral is part of the same UNESCO group and famous for its mosaics. Bus 389 from Piazza Indipendenza takes about 35 minutes.
Cefalù has a UNESCO-listed cathedral and a seaside old town. The train from Palermo Centrale takes about one hour.
La Zisa is a 12th-century Arab-Norman palace on the edge of Palermo’s centre.
Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri is a 14th-century palace in the old town, and it offers a different view of the city’s noble past.
More Sicily travel
Other Sicily travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Palermo Botanic Gardens.
- What to expect at Palazzo Conte Federico in Palermo.
- How to go inside Palermo’s Capuchin Catacombs.
- Get a history fix at the Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo.
- Admire the magnificent temple at Segesta Archaeological Park.
