6 Best Mafia Tours in Palermo

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, has some of the most representative architectural works in southern Italy and is an example of the coexistence of different Norman, Byzantine and Romanesque styles. However, it is also the city where the Cosa Nostra emerged and where the mafia has operated freely, especially during the first half of the 20th century.

Among the best activities to see and do in Palermo to follow in the footsteps of the mafia, you can take a guided tour of the city to discover the origins of gangsterism, visit the Capo Market, where a medieval lodge founded the Cosa Nostra criminal organisation, tour Corleone to find the locations of The Godfather, and visit Portella della Ginestra to relive the famous massacre.

A guided walk through the city to learn about the mafia is the most comprehensive excursion to learn about the Cosa Nostra in Palermo, the founding city of the criminal organisation in Sicily. On these tours, you can visit Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, the epicentre of the capital, the Capo Market, where Italian gangsterism was born, and Piazza della Memoria.

During these tours, you will also learn about the links between politics and the mafia in Sicily and the influence that the Cosa Nostra had on the resistance and separatist movements during World War II and the post-war period. These tours usually also include a visit to the picturesque Cathedral and Town Hall.

If you are a fan of The Godfather trilogy, you can visit the corners of the Sicilian capital that were used as locations for the films, such as the Teatro Massimo, where the final scene of the third film was shot, and the Monastery of Palermo, where Michael Corleone meets the Pope.

Keep in mind that mafia-themed tours are also a fun alternative to see the main sites of Palermo's historic centre on a guided and entertaining tour, especially if you are interested in the mafia.

Details of interest

• Price of these tours... They have an approximate starting price of £32 per person. Children between the ages of 10 and 17 pay £16.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 3 hours.

Corleone is not only the surname of the family featured in The Godfather trilogy, but also an ancient Sicilian village with many real-life examples of mafia bosses who were born there. On these half-day excursions , you can walk the streets of Corleone, see some of the film locations and visit the Mafia Museum, which is notable for its archives on Sicilian gangsterism.

In Corleone, you will also have time to have lunch, enjoy Sicilian cuisine and taste wines from local wineries in restaurants that are every bit as good as those usually included in the best food tours of Palermo. After lunch, the tour will continue to Portella della Ginestra.

Portella della Ginestra is a small spot located between the villages of San Giuseppe Jato and Piana degli Albanesi and is a place that became famous for the bandit Salvatore Giuliano, a post-war Sicilian gangster and trafficker who led the island's separatist movements for many years and caused the massacre that left 11 people dead during the summer celebrations of 1 May 1947. During the visit, you can visit the memorial commemorating the victims.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate starting price of £75 per person. The final price varies depending on the number of visitors and includes return transport and the services of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 5 to 6 hours.

Just as there are many tours that attempt to show the history of the mafia and the Cosa Nostra's relationship with Palermo and the island of Sicily, there are also other anti-mafia tours that seek to promote the culture that fights gangsterism in the Sicilian capital and defend the memory of those who died fighting the mafia bosses.

These tours are among the best in Palermo, as they not only take you to the main sites in the city that are related to the Mafia, but also to the monuments dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives in an attempt to restore a culture of legality in Palermo , such as Judge Giovanni Falcone, who was assassinated by the Cosa Nostra in a bomb attack.

These tours are usually led by a guide who belongs to an anti-mafia organisation, so you can get first-hand information about the measures these associations are taking to help eradicate gangsterism in the Sicilian capital. On these tours, you can also stop for lunch in the Piazza della Memoria area, located between the old and new courts of Palermo.

Anti-Mafia tours last approximately 3 hours, making them ideal for a short visit to the city. If that's the case, here's a list of activities you can do to discover Palermo in 3 days.

Useful information

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate starting price of £28 per person, including the services of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 3 hours.

If you want to combine a cycling activity with a mafia tour in Palermo, then you can opt for these excursions, which consist of a tour from the historic centre of the Sicilian capital to Bagli de Ciaculli, a farming village where you can discover Arab-Norman and Islamic buildings and also learn about mafia stories, such as the Ciaculli Massacre.

This massacre consisted of a car bomb that exploded in Ciaculli in 1963, killing seven police officers and soldiers in an attack that was instigated by mafia boss Pietro Torretta. This massacre did not go unnoticed by the national government, but was the beginning of the first war against the mafia, making it a central destination in the history of the Cosa Nostra.

This excursion is one of the best activities to do from Palermo, as you can enjoy a bike ride of more than 30 kilometres there and back and also visit one of the most representative sites in the fight against Sicilian gangsterism.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate starting price of £39 per person, including the services of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 4 hours.

If you plan to visit Palermo at Christmas, you will see that the Christmas markets are a major attraction in the city, especially the one located in the Capo Market, which becomes themed during December. However, these markets are open all year round and some have a very interesting history.

The Capo Market, one of the four most important in the city, hides many of the secrets of the Sicilian mafia, as it is believed that it was in its underground passages, now closed, that the Cosa Nostra originated through the criminal activities of a medieval sect known as the Beati Paoli. Here you can take a guided tour through the narrow streets of the market to discover its myths.

These tours are usually short, lasting approximately 2 hours, making them ideal if you plan to continue exploring the city afterwards, as the Capo Market is located in the city centre, very close to Palermo Cathedral, the Town Hall, Piazza della Memoria and Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, which is the epicentre of most of the city's activities.

Details of interest

• Price of these tours... They have an approximate starting price of £18 per person, including the services of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 2 hours.

One of the best ways to soak up the atmosphere of the city on a mafia tour is to take a night tour of the places that hide the mysteries and secrets of Palermo. On these excursions , you will visit the Capo Market, considered the birthplace of the Cosa Nostra in the Middle Ages, Piazza della Memoria, the Town Hall, Piazza Giuseppe Verdi and the Cathedral, which witnessed the links between the Church and the mafia bosses.

In addition, on these tours you can also visit the No Mafia Memorial, one of the best museums in Palermo, dedicated to honouring the victims who died fighting the Cosa Nostra in Sicily. During the tour of the Capo Market, you can also stop to buy food and drinks.

These tours are on foot, last approximately 2 hours and are also useful for seeing the main sites at night and enjoying the architecture and lighting of the Sicilian capital.

Please note that although these tours are available all year round, if you plan to visit Palermo in winter, I recommend that you bring at least a light coat with you, as the temperature tends to drop substantially at night.

Details of interest

• Price of these tours... They have an approximate starting price of £24 per person, including the services of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 2 hours.

You can buy excursions in advance online or book tours once you are in the city, although if you plan to visit Palermo in August or during the summer months, it is best to buy before your visit to secure your place on the excursions and also to avoid last-minute price increases.

In addition, some tour operators offer discounts for online bookings, and having your tours planned before your visit will allow you to organise an itinerary to explore the city.

The answer will depend on the tour you choose, but if you are interested in the mafia, you can visit the main sites in Palermo and its surroundings where the Cosa Nostra originated and developed, and also learn about the protagonists of the fight against gangsterism, terrorism, trafficking and crime in the city.

It is also a good alternative to get to know the city from a different perspective, although most of the tours cover the main sites of the Sicilian capital.

If you plan to visit Palermo in summer, which is the city's high season, I recommend booking your excursions in advance to avoid crowds, sold-out tours and last-minute price increases.

Also, if you plan to visit Palermo with children, I advise you to opt for shorter excursions or those that require less physical exertion, to prevent the little ones from getting bored and missing out on the attractions.

If you are interested in the mafia, you cannot miss these excursions, as Palermo is not only closely linked to the Cosa Nostra and part of its history, but also offers well-organised tours that explore the subject.

Mafia tours are also an excellent opportunity to discover important and outlying places in Palermo, such as Corleone and Portella della Ginestra, which would otherwise be difficult to visit on your own.