Palermo hosts underground cave tours and Botero art visits

Palermo is hosting several cultural and historical excursions in late August and early September 2026.

Terradamare and Green Sicily Outdoor are organizing guided tours of the “Le Muchate Arabe,” an extensive network of ancient underground quarries located near the Fiera del Mediterraneo. These caves, which date back to the Arab-Norman period, were used to extract Pleistocene calcarenite for the construction of Palermo’s historic monuments and churches. The tour includes equipment such as illuminated helmets and covers the multi-level quarry system.

Additionally, the Museo Riso (Palazzo Belmonte Riso) is presenting a series of evening educational visits as part of the “Notti del Contemporaneo” program. The visits focus on an exhibition of works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, featuring twelve pieces including paintings, watercolors, and sculptures. A notable highlight of the exhibition is the large gilded bronze sculpture, “Serpente.”