This confectionery shop, located inside the Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, is an homage to the ancient tradition of making pastries inside convents. Cassata and other traditional cakes are sold by the slice, cannoli are filled with sweet ricotta cream à la minute to ensure prime crispiness, and there are almond and pistachio cookies, plus hand-painted marzipan fruits, displayed at various stations. Enjoy your sweets in the lush, fruit tree-lined, open-air courtyard paved with multicolored traditional maioliche tiles, and save time to visit the ornate Baroque church before making your way up to the rooftop for one of the best views in town.

The tranquility of the cloister and the atmosphere of the "spezieria" provide a highly evocative setting in this wonderful place, housed within the 14th-century Monastery of Santa Caterina di Alessandria (and until 2014, home to the cloistered Dominican nuns). The dolceria, born in 2017 through the initiative of a cooperative of young people and thanks to the recovery of recipes by researcher and historian Maria Oliveri, offers the best of traditional and convent Sicilian pastry: the cannolo is a work of art. I Segreti del Chiostro – Chiesa di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria - facebook.com/ISegretidelChiostro.17?

La tranquillità del chiostro e l’atmosfera della “spezieria” offrono un’atmosfera di grande suggestione a questo luogo meraviglioso, ospitato all’interno del trecentesco Monastero di Santa Caterina di Alessandria (e fino al 2014 sede delle monache di clausura domenicane). La dolceria è nata nel 2017 per iniziativa di una cooperativa di giovani e grazie al recupero dei ricettari da parte della ricercatrice e storica Maria Oliveri. C’è tutto il meglio della pasticceria di tradizione e conventuale siciliana: il cannolo è un’opera d’arte.

One more not-to-miss stop is I Segreti del Chiostro, a secret pastry shop in the Chiesa di Santa Caterina church near the famous tiered fountain between Piazza Pretoria and Piazza Bellini. Look for a small sign and an attendant outside who will direct you upstairs to see a small indoor garden and this very special shop where long-lost Sicilian pastries are still made. Pack up a few almond biscotti, frutta di martorana marzipan fruits, or a pack of cannoli to take home with you — if you can resist not eating them all not he spot.

Breakfast – One more not-to-miss stop is I Segreti del Chiostro, a secret pastry shop in the Chiesa di Santa Caterina church, close to the famous tiered fountain between Piazza Pretoria and Piazza Bellini. Look for a small sign and an attendant outside who will direct you upstairs to a small indoor garden where long-lost Sicilian pastries are still made. Pack up a few almond biscotti, frutta di martorana (marzipan fruits), or a pack of cannoli to take home with you–if you can resist gobbling all of them up in one go.

Originally intended to protect the trade secrets of convent bakeries throughout Sicily, I Segreti del Chiostro is based at the Santa Caterina convent. This institution features excellent and uncommon sweet delicacies made from the best ingredients, all within these old walls. A celebration of the tradition of ancient family recipes, the products range from biscuits to cassata, cannoli, fritters, and Sicilian slush, expressing the essence of Sicilian culinary heritage.

I Segreti del Chiostro, born as a project to safeguard secret recipes of convent bakeries from all over Sicily, finds its home in the Santa Caterina convent. Within these historic walls, this establishment showcases exceptional and rare sweet treats crafted from the finest ingredients. From biscuits to cassata, cannoli, fritters, and Sicilian slush, the offerings celebrate the legacy of these secret recipes, capturing the essence of Sicilian culinary heritage.

Al secondo posto troviamo i segreti del Chiostro in Piazza Bellini 33: cannoli ottimi confezionati in un packaging funzionale. Ricotta “abbattuta” e confezionata in un comodo packaging, cannoli da gustare nella quiete di un chiostro pittoresco dove si percepisce solo il rumore dell’acqua della fontana centrale, trovandosi all’interno del monastero di Santa Caterina. Non guasta la gentilezza dei proprietari che sanno consigliare cannoli per tutti i palati!.

Dalle cucine dei monasteri siciliani sono arrivate alcune delle ricette più emblematiche della tradizione. Come ad esempio la frutta di Martorana, i dolcetti di marzapane a base di mandorle e miele che si dice siano stati inventati dalle monache dell’omonimo convento. I segreti del Chiostro è una dolceria nell’ex monastero di Santa Caterina, trasformato parzialmente in museo nel 2017.

There’s something magical about enjoying a handcrafted cannolo in a place where nuns once perfected the art of pastry-making. I Segreti del Chiostro is not just a bakery, it’s a living piece of Sicilian culinary history. Located within the former Dominican monastery of Santa Caterina, this charming pastry shop preserves ancient recipes once made by cloistered nuns.

I Segreti del Chiostro – A hidden treasure in Palermo, known for serving some of the most exquisite desserts in the city. Located within a historic cloister, this charming spot offers a peaceful atmosphere where you can taste authentic Sicilian sweets. Their cannolis are legendary—crispy shells filled with the creamiest ricotta, expertly crafted to perfection.

Inside the monastery of the Church of Santa Caterina in Palermo, this pastry shop preserves the centuries-old tradition of monastic baking, embellishing historic Arab recipes. Enjoy a perfectly crunchy cannolo, piped and garnished to order, sitting under a tree in the lovely majolica-tiled inner courtyard.

The richly decorated Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, also known as La Martorana, should be next on the list, followed by the enchanting Monastero di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, which hides I Segreti del Chiostro (one of Palermo’s best pasticcerie) next to its magnificent cloister.

I segreti del Chiostro translates to the secrets of the cloister. The place is located inside the former Dominican monastery of Santa Caterina. The desserts are made scrupulously following the ancient recipes handed down by the nuns of the 21 cloistered monasteries of Palermo.

In my opinion, the best place to try both, certainly for ambience and choice of selection, is I Segreti del Chiostro (The Secrets of the Cloister), a pasticceria hidden away in the former convent of the Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Piazza Bellini.

Discover the best restaurants in Palermo, Italy including I Segreti del Chiostro, Archestrato di Gela, Ristorante Ferro. There is also information with regard to the difficulty in the preparation, to the intensity of flavour and to the nutritional composition.

I Segreti del Chiostro: born as a project to preserve ancient Palermitan pastry traditions, it’s located inside the Church of Santa Caterina. The cannoli and almond paste cookies are irresistible.

Watch as the cannoli are freshly made before your eyes and enjoy the high-quality ingredients. Don't miss the peaceful inner courtyard for a perfect cannolo experience.

I segreti del Chiostro (dentro la chiesa di S.Caterina) : ottimi dolci da mangiare lì o da portare via. Cannolo e biscotti alla pasta di mandorle/pistacchio da urlo.