Guided tours and tastings at the Abbey of San Martino delle Scale

Guided tours and tastings at the Abbey of San Martino delle Scale

For the second weekend of April the active monastic complex of San Martino delle Scale will welcome visitors to guided tours focused on Benedictine history, artistic heritage and local monastic products. The visits combine cultural discovery with the chance to taste traditional abbey specialties.

What you will see

• The church with its 16th-century wooden choir and historic organ.
• The wax nativity museum and the collection of liturgical artworks from the 17th–18th centuries.
• The monumental façade facing Palermo, the old pharmacy, the chapter house and the refectory.
• The monastic workshop offering abbey products from various European traditions.

Practical information

• Location: Abbey of San Martino delle Scale, Piazza Platani 11, Monreale (PA), Sicily.
• When: 11 April 2026 at 16:00 (Saturday); 12 April 2026 at 11:00 and 16:00 (Sunday). Meeting 30 minutes before at the porter’s lodge.
• Ticket: 11 EUR for the guided tour. Children under 6 free.
• Optional tasting: for an additional 5 EUR guests can sample the abbey’s two beers (blonde and dark) paired with local cheeses and Sicilian cassata.
• Lunch with the community: subject to availability, it is possible to have Sunday lunch with the monastic community in the refectory.
• Bookings and info: [email protected].

Tours are led by historian Igor Gelarda and local volunteers, coordinated by the abbey’s monastic staff. Visitors may also meet members of the community who participate in the convent’s culinary programmes on television.

The next scheduled opening at the abbey is planned for 25–26 April 2026; advance booking is recommended due to limited availability.