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Palermo's opulent medieval buildings, Byzantine palaces and Norman cathedrals come alive on this guided half-day tour that takes in the top sights by motorcoach and includes a visit to the magnificent 12th-century Cathedral of Monreale.

Cruise through the historic heart of this capital city and focus your camera on The Palazzo dei Normanni, or Royal Palace of Palermo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by the Arabs in the 9th century, it was transferred to and renovated by Norman rulers. After a period of neglect, a Spanish viceroy extended and revitalized it, and since 1947, it has been the seat of the regional parliament of Sicily.

You won't know where to look first when Palermo's cathedral comes into view. Built in the 12th century on the site of a Roman temple, it spent time as an Arab mosque before 1072 when the Normans turned it into a Christian church. Its Norman-Arab architecture became more of a patchwork throughout each era, from the Middle ages into the baroque and Renaissance periods, as the cathedral was added to and renovated to reflect the tastes of the time. As you drive around the structure today, see if you can spot a remnant from each era.

As you approach the stately Massimo Theatre, you'll be gazing at the largest opera house in Italy. A 25-year restoration brought this 1860s masterpiece designed Gian Battista Basile back to life, and it officially reopened its doors in 1997.

At the edge of the Palermo Harbor, discover the spectacular Felice Gate and imagine a time when it was through these structures that visitors were welcomed into this medieval city. Travel down Corso Vittorio Emanuele, one of Palermo's grandest boulevards, and see Marina Square, a favorite gathering spot, and the Garibaldi Gardens. Don't blush as you pass Fontana Pretoria, a magnificent fountain designed in the high Renaissance style, nicknamed the Fountain of Shame because of the many nude statues that adorn it.

Then continue up a hill to the charming town of Monreale, a seemingly unlikely location for a world-famous cathedral. At almost 1,000 feet above sea level and overlooking the fertile valley of the Conca d'Oro, you'll see why Monreale's cathedral, or duomo, founded in 1174 by Norman King William II, is considered the most incredible example of Norman architecture in Italy.

From the outside, the cathedral is attractive enough, but its exterior only hints at the splendors within. Walk through huge Romanesque bronze doors and you'll be overcome with the grandeur of the interior décor. Dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, colorful, elaborate and shimmering mosaics cover the walls of the nave, aisles, transept and apse. Depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament, the 68,220 square feet of beauty overwhelms the senses. The Monreale Cathedral has the most extensive mosaic decor in all of Italy, surpassing even Venice's San Marco. In addition to the mosaics, there are large antique columns with decorative carvings and marble paneling on the walls, and an ornamental floor covers the sanctuary.

With all that you've seen on this tour, you and your fellow travelers will have much to chat about on your picturesque drive back to port.