The Rick Steves map of “The Best of Sicily” 11 days tour, which began my two month trek through Sicily, Italy and Malta.

The Rick Steves map of “The Best of Sicily” 11 days tour, which began my two month trek through Sicily, Italy and Malta.

The Rick Steves map of “The Best of Sicily” 11 days tour, which began my two month trek through Sicily, Italy and Malta.

This is a guest room in the Palazzo Conti Frederico in Palermo, Sicily, which can be rented. April 16, 2017

Our tour group took a tour of an actual family palace that’s been handed down to its current Conti and Contessa Frederico for generations. And, it is called the Palazzo Conti Frederico. A part of our “get acquainted walk” during our first tour group outing, was touring this palazzo. April 16, 2017

The Palazzo Conti Frederico, the actual home of Conti Frederico and his wife, the Contessa, in Palermo, Sicily. April 16, 2017

Our Rick Steves tour group enjoying a toast at the Palazzo Conti Frederico in Palermo, Sicily, during our first night together as a group. April 16, 2017

One of Conti Frederico’s hobbies is sports car racing and this little red beauty was parked inside the Palazzo Conti Frederico gate when you enter the palazzo. April 16, 2017

We got an early start this morning with a walk to these two churches next to one another in the Piazza Bellini in Palermo, Sicily. The church to the left is the Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio and to the right is the church of San Cataldo. These Catholic churches are notable examples of the Arab-Norman architecture which flourished in Sicily. April 17, 2017

Across the street from the two churches, in the same Piazza Bellini is Santa Caterina in Palermo. The interior, filled with a variety of sculptures and marble inlay, is considered a prime and powerful example of Sicilian Baroque. April 17, 2017

The brilliant interior of the Santa Caterina church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria was rebuilt between 1566 and 1596 replacing an old palace in Palermo, Sicily. April 17, 2017