Built in the early 14th century in Norman Gothic style, Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri, one of the symbols of Palermo, bears witness to a multifaceted history as both a tribunal and prison under the Inquisition from 1600 to 1782. Today, it serves as the headquarters of the University of Palermo, offering visitors a glimpse into history through its marvellous lecture halls adorned with intricate 14th-century wooden ceilings. The Inquisition Museum within its walls unveils the poignant narratives of prisoners through haunting graffiti and artworks, etching their stories onto the very cells that once confined them.

Festa di Santa Rosalia is a grand annual festival that takes place in July. The festival, which lasts six days, is dedicated to Saint Rosalia, also called La Santuzza (Little Saint) or Rusulia (in Sicilian dialect), Palermo's patron saint, and it commemorates the miraculous appearances of the saint in 1624 when the city was hit by the plague. This festival is full of dazzling fireworks, religious processions, live music, and sumptuous Sicilian delicacies.

The Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria in Palermo attracts visitors from all corners of the globe with its remarkable Sicilian Baroque architecture and ornate decor: the walls are full of ornamental paintings and there are vibrant frescoes, intricately carved statues, and stunning colourful marble interiors. Don't miss out on the magnificent majolica cloister and the view from the rooftop terrace. The bakery located inside the complex sells sweet treats prepared with century-old recipes from Sicily's convents.

Perhaps San Jose’s most whimsical treasure is the Winchester Mystery House. The Victorian-crafted mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, the wily heir to the Winchester repeating rifle fortune. As she believed she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by the rifle, Winchester built the house in an effort to thwart the spirits. The labyrinth was constructed and added onto until Winchester’s death, resulting in one of the strangest feats of architecture known to man. Endless stairs, corridors, mazes and secret passageways lead tour guides to instruct guests to stay with the group.