Is I Segreti del Chiostro worth it?
Worth itUnderrated · +31Revived convent pastry shop in the cloister of Santa Caterina, famed for fresh-filled cannoli
Worth it. 4.6 across 2,637 reviews; reviewers repeatedly call the cannoli and setting a trip highlight.
Hype43How famous and hyped it is
Reality74Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4.6 ★ Google · 2,637 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to I Segreti del Chiostro? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 food lovers vote
Convent recipes like fedde del cancelliere and sospiri di monaca are rare, and the cannoli are filled fresh.
Why Reality is 74
Lives up to its fame4/54.6 across 2,637 reviews; reviewers repeatedly call the cannoli and setting a trip highlight.
Value for money3/5Premium pastry prices (€6 cannolo), but you get a free historic courtyard setting with it.
Can’t get it elsewhere5/5Convent pastries made to the nuns' recipes inside the convent itself: there's no equivalent elsewhere in Palermo.
Easy to do4/5Steps from Quattro Canti; numbered tickets keep waits around 10 minutes, though peak queues happen.
What people loved
Cannoli filled to order with crisp shells and fresh, not-too-sweet ricottaYou eat in a hidden cloister courtyard with a fountain, citrus trees and majolica tilesRevives centuries-old convent recipes you won't find in ordinary pasticcerieQueue-ticket system keeps waits short, often around 10 minutesCan be combined with the monastery visit and roof views over Piazza PretoriaWhat wore them down
Busy at peak times; arrive at opening to avoid the queueService can feel rushed and impersonal given the volumeA €6 cannolo is pricier than at a normal Palermo bakeryCloses at 5:30 p.m., so it's a daytime-only stopParking & getting there
Don’t driveDon't drive: Piazza Bellini is in the heart of the historic-centre ZTL with camera fines. If you arrive by car, leave it at a garage on the edge, such as Via Rossini, and walk about 10 minutes.
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- Parcheggio Maquedagarage · about 7 min walk · ★ 3.9 (178)Price not publishedMap
- Parcheggio Del Centrostoricolot · about 10 min walk · ★ 4.5 (229)Price not publishedMap
- Historic-centre ZTL Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00 plus weekend night hours; non-resident day pass €5 (petrol Euro 3+/diesel Euro 4+), fines €81–164 via ANPR cameras. Garages inside the zone may still require ZTL access, so check with the operator before entering. autovia.it
Without a car: Walk 2 min from Quattro Canti; from Palermo Centrale station it is about 15 min on foot up Via Maqueda.
Driving rules in Palermo
Don't drive in Palermo's old town: it is a camera ZTL on weekdays and weekend nights, and the centre is compact and walkable. A car is worth it for day trips to Segesta, Riserva dello Zingaro, Capo Gallo and Monreale. If you do take one into the centre, buy and activate the €5 daily pass first.
- ZTL Centrale (historic centre). Covers the whole old town inside Via Cavour, Foro Italico, Via Lincoln, Corso Tukory and Piazza Indipendenza (Kalsa, Albergheria, Capo, La Loggia); the boundary roads themselves are free to drive. Active all year Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00. Summer (1 May–31 Oct): also Fri 20:00–24:00, Sat 00:00–06:00 and 20:00–24:00, Sun 00:00–06:00. Winter (1 Nov–30 Apr): Fri 23:00–24:00, Sat 00:00–06:00 and 23:00–24:00, Sun 00:00–06:00. Usually suspended over Christmas. sicurauto.it
- Daily ZTL pass. Non-residents can buy a daily pass: €5 petrol/diesel, €2.50 hybrid/methane/LPG, free for electric cars and disabled-badge vehicles. It is not available for Euro 0–2 petrol or Euro 0–3 diesel cars. Buy it on the Comune's online platform, at AMAT offices or ACI, or via Telepass from 4 May 2026. Activate it for your plate before entering, by SMS or the PalerMobilità app. sicurauto.it
- Fines. Camera gates (ANPR) fine cars without a valid pass €81–164. Rental companies forward your details. Garages inside the zone may still require ZTL access, so check with the operator. autovia.it
- Mondello evening ZTL. Trial ZTL in piazza Mondello and nearby streets 20:00–24:00 (to 01:00 before holidays), 8 May–30 Sep 2026. Parts of Viale Regina Elena are pedestrianised (ordinance no. 15 of 6/5/2026). sicurauto.it
- City ordinance. Ordinance O.D. 1080 of 17 June 2026 confirms the ZTL Centrale and pedestrian areas and restricts loading access hours. comune.palermo.it
Know before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No booking; take a queue ticket at the entrance
PriceCannolo about €6 (reviewer, 2026); entry to the pastry shop and cloister courtyard is freeSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Monastery visitSeparate paid visit to the church, cloister rooms and roofs of Santa Caterina; €8 when reported in 2019 — check current price on siteSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
HoursDaily 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.Source · Checked Oct 17, 2026
QueueTake a number at the entrance; waits of around 10 minutes are typical, longer at peakSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026
HistoryThe Santa Caterina convent was cloistered for about 700 years; the last nun left in 2014 and the nuns' pastry workshop reopened around 2018 using their recipesSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
What to orderCannoli filled to order, Trionfo di Gola, sospiri di monaca, cassata, fedde del cancelliere, Martorana fruitSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Time needed20–30 min; 1 hour with the monastery and roof visitSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Getting thereNo metro; 2 min walk (150 m) from Quattro Canti, off Piazza Bellini beside the Fontana PretoriaSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
In their words
“be prepared for a queue I’d recommend arriving right at opening time if you want to avoid waiting.”
“The shell was crisp, the ricotta tasted fresh and not overly sweet”
“the line moves really fast, and within 10 minutes, you’re already standing by the fountain with a dessert in your hand.”
“the service can also feel a little rushed and impersonal.”
Tips from people who went
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Questions people ask
Where is I Segreti del Chiostro?
Inside the convent of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, entered from Piazza Bellini 33, next to Piazza Pretoria.
How much is a cannolo at I Segreti del Chiostro?
About €6, as reported by a reviewer in 2026.
Do you need a ticket to visit?
No ticket is needed for the pastry shop and courtyard. The full monastery and roof visit is a separate paid ticket.
How long is the wait?
You take a number at the entrance; reviewers typically wait around 10 minutes. Arrive at the 10 a.m. opening to avoid it.
What are the opening hours?
Google lists daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Google Maps – I Segreti del Chiostro
- Gambero Rosso International – The rebirth of the nuns' bakery in Palermo (2019)
- The Infatuation – I Segreti del Chiostro