The Zisa Palace (the name comes from the Arabic word al-Azīz which means “the splendid”) is a castle located outside the walls of the ancient town of Palermo and inside Genoardo (from the Arabic word Jannat al-ar or “garden or paradise on the earth”) – where it is the most important and representative monument. With its building peculiarities and its crystalline forms, Zisa Palace is the best preserved model of the Arab-Norman architecture. The ruler William I of Sicily began building Zisa palace in 1165, but it was completed by his successor, William II. The palace was additionally enriched with the “room of the fountains” located on the ground floor of the building. This room is the most stunning in the entire castle and it is decorated with wonderful mosaics and muqarnas vaults. From 1808 to the 1950s the building was a residence by the princes Notarbartolo di Sciara. Today Zisa is open to public. In 2015 Zisa became UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The castle itself is very large. At the entrance visitors may find the map of the building and the surrounding area. There is also a book shop where visitors may purchase souvenirs.
However, there is not much to see within this castle today.
Ticket price for Zisa Palace in Palermo
Regular ticket price: € 6,00
Reduced ticket price: € 3,00 (valid for students between 18 and 25 years old)
Every first Sunday of each month the entrance is FREE OF CHARGE
Working hours of Zisa Palace in Palermo
Zisa Palace is open from Monday to Saturday from 09:00am to 7:00pm (last entrance at 6:30pm)
On Sundays and holidays from 09:00am to 1:30pm (last entrance at 1:00pm)
