Silk Road Kitchen

Do you ever have one of those days when you’re trying to get breakfast on the table and you have to ask your husband for help? And the instructions you give him are “Sweetie, can you please do me a favour and keep the camel out of the kitchen.”

One of the world’s most fabulous bakeries can be found here!
From 1311 the Monastery of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, in Palermo, Sicily was the home of Dominican nuns. In 2014, the last remaining cloistered nun of Santa Caterina left Palermo.
The convent, situated around a beautiful citrus-tree lined cloister, was subsequently turned into a museum. On entering, it feels as if you have stepped back in time, surrounded by intricate wood carvings, plaster work and mosaics, where a sense of peace and calmness prevails. And there is also a special surprise. There is the most magnificent bakery located here, “I Segreti del Chiostro” (The Secrets of the Cloister), which specializes in traditional Sicilian convent pastries, such as cannoli and minne di vergine. These are ancient recipes previously kept secret by the cloistered nuns, but now visitors are able to indulge in these delicious sweets and pastries!