Palestra Monkey Gym shows 4.3 from 43 reviews, and its four written reviews consistently frame it as a serious bodybuilding gym - with one memorable comparison that tells you exactly what kind of atmosphere to expect.
"Rocky's Gym, Den of Tigers"
Vito Fazer's review, translated from Italian, opens with a vivid comparison: "Before attending it I saw it as Rocky's gym... den of tigers... it's well equipped anyway... if you're aiming for results, the place is right... the changing room is fine... the instructors know how to do their job." That nickname - comparing it to the gritty, hardcore training hall from the Rocky films - is worth taking as a genuine signal about atmosphere: a serious, no-frills, results-focused bodybuilding environment rather than a polished commercial gym with amenities and light socializing.
A Trainer Named as the Reason to Choose This Gym Specifically
TheJam1983's review makes the recommendation personal rather than generic: "Central bodybuilding gym. Very friendly staff even though they didn't speak English. The gym has lots of different kinds of machines and OK free weights. Monkey Gym by Johnny is the gym you should go to if you like bodybuilding style gyms." Naming the gym specifically in connection with a person, Johnny, suggests he's a defining figure in how the gym runs and is perceived locally - worth asking about directly if you're drawn here specifically for bodybuilding-style coaching.
A Language Note Worth Flagging Directly
TheJam1983 also specifically notes the staff's limited English - worth knowing in advance if you don't speak Italian and are relying on verbal coaching or instruction, since he still found the experience positive despite the language gap, but I'd weigh it as a real practical consideration for a non-Italian-speaking visitor.
What Local Reviewers Confirm
Roberto Tavormina, translated from Italian: "Qualified staff and a place complete with all equipment. Recommended." Antonella Lo Giudice, translated from Italian, adds range: "Very qualified staff, many disciplines, and a gym equipped with everything, in an environment that combines professionalism and friendliness." That mention of "many disciplines" is worth noting alongside the bodybuilding-specific framing from the other two reviews - this may offer more variety than a single-focus bodybuilding gym, even if that's the reputation it's best known for.
What's Missing
No review states a membership price. Nothing describes exact opening hours. The newest written review is from August 2019, more than six years old now, so it's unclear whether Johnny is still running the gym or whether the bodybuilding-focused identity has shifted.
Who It's Not For
Anyone looking for a polished, amenity-heavy commercial gym - multiple reviewers frame this as a serious, hardcore bodybuilding environment instead. Anyone who needs English-speaking staff, given one specific note about the language gap.
Via Ernesto Paci, 18, 90123 Palermo PA, Italy.
FAQ
Is this a serious bodybuilding gym?
Yes, according to multiple reviewers, one of whom compares the atmosphere directly to the gritty training gym from the Rocky films - a hardcore, results-focused environment rather than a polished commercial club.
Do staff speak English?
Not well, according to one reviewer specifically, though he still found the experience positive and the staff friendly despite the language gap.
Who runs the gym?
A person named Johnny is specifically credited by one reviewer as the reason to choose this gym if you're into bodybuilding-style training.
Does it offer more than bodybuilding-specific training?
Possibly - one reviewer describes "many disciplines" available, suggesting broader offerings beyond the bodybuilding reputation the other reviews emphasize.