Palermo is the capital of the Italian island of Sicily. This underrated city is the perfect place to experience authentic Sicilian cuisine and culture, and learn about the incredible history of an ancient city. Palermo is proud of its Arabic origins, going back to the 8th century, and its three main markets, Capo, Vucciria and Ballarò, are reminiscent of Arab souks. Palermo is a beautiful place to get lost in history, food, vibrant city life and nearby nature escape.
WHAT TO DO & SEE
Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel
Palermo has some notable buildings from the Norman and succeeding periods. A distinctive Arab-Norman architecture is seen in the Royal Palace, which contains the Palatine Chapel (1132–89), one of the masterpieces of the Middle Ages. The Palazzo dei Normanni or Royal Palace of Palermo is a palace in Palermo, Italy. It was the seat of the Kings of Sicily with the Hauteville dynasty and served afterwards as the main seat of power for the subsequent rulers of Sicily. Since 1946 it has been the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. The building is the oldest royal residence in Europe; and was the private residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Sicily and the imperial seat of Frederick II and Conrad IV.
Massimo Theatre
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house and opera company located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II. It is the biggest in Italy, and one of the largest of Europe, renowned for its perfect acoustics.
Palermo Cathedral
The Cathedral of Palermo is one of the most important architectural monuments in Sicily. It was built in 1184 by the Normans as a re-converted Christian church on the site of a Muslim Mosque that was previously built over a Christian basilica. This Cathedral is a must-see when visiting Palermo! As an architectural complex, it is characterized by the presence of different styles, due to a long history of additions, alterations and restorations, the last of which occurred in the 18th century.
Quattro Canti
Quattro Canti, officially known as Piazza Vigliena, is a Baroque square in Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy; it is considered the center of the historic quarters of the city. The site is the intersection of two major streets in Palermo, the Via Maqueda and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and at this intersection are the corners of all four of the ancient quarters of Palermo: the Kalsa; Seralcadi; Albergaria; and Castellammare.
Fontana Pretoria
The Praetorian Fountain is a monumental fountain located in Piazza Pretoria in the historic center of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. The fountain dominates the piazza on the west flank of the church of Santa Caterina, and is one block south of the intersection of the Quattro Canti. The fountain was originally built in 1544 in Florence by Francesco Camilliani, but was sold, transferred, and reassembled in Palermo in 1574.
Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio
The Church of St. Mary of the Admiral, also called Martorana, is the seat of the Parish of San Nicolò dei Greci, overlooking the Piazza Bellini, next to the norman church of San Cataldo, and facing the Baroque church of Santa Caterina in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy.
San Giovanni degli Eremiti
San Giovanni degli Eremiti is an ancient former monastic church located on Via Benedettini #19 in the ancient quarter of Albergaria of the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. It is about two blocks south from the Palazzo dei Normanni, adjacent to the church of San Giorgio in Kemonia. While the interior is virtually devoid of decoration or furnishings, the red Norman-Byzantine domes, the medieval cloister ruins, and garden make this small church a symbol of ancient Palermo.
Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
Santa Caterina d'Alessandria or Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Roman Catholic church with the main facade on Piazza Bellini, and a lateral Western facade facing the elaborate Fontana Pretoria, in the historic quarter of Kalsa in the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. In front of the main facade, across the piazza Bellini, rise the older churches of San Cataldo and Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, while across Piazza Pretoria is the Theatine church of San Giuseppe and the entrance to the Quattro Canti. Refurbished over the centuries, the church retains elements and decorations from the Renaissance, Baroque, and late-Baroque eras.
Santa Maria dello Spasimo
Santa Maria dello Spasimo, or Lo Spasimo, is an unfinished Catholic church in the Kalsa neighborhood in Palermo, Sicily, on Via dello Spasimo. Construction of the church and accompanying monastery of the Olivetan Order began in 1509 with a papal bull from Julius II.
Villa Giulia
The Villa Giulia, also known as Villa del Popolo, and as Villa Flor is an urban public park, lying to the east of the Botanical Garden of Palermo, in the region of Sicily, Italy.
Markets
Each of the four historic quarters of Palermo has its own market, but the Vucciria, Ballarò and Capo are the big three in terms of historical charm and popularity with locals and tourists alike. The markets are open from 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, but close at 1pm on Wednesday. Mornings are very, very busy on market days.
WHERE TO EAT
If you are in Palermo, you'll soon find out that the city is about food. From fresh ingredients, local food from markets to osterias.
Sicily is the best know for Cannoli. Perhaps the most famous of all Sicilian pastries, Cannoli is a party for your taste bud. The composition of the confectionary treat is a crisp outer pastry shell combined with sweetened ricotta cheese inside of it.
Another delicious small bite best known in Sicily is Arancino. Arancino is a rice ball that is stuffed with tomato sauce, peas and meat or stuffed with ham, béchamel and cheese and then fried. This is something that you can find about any time of the day or night around Palermo.
Sicily may be close to Italy, but it’s more than just a neighboring island. In fact, it’s an independent country—a land that at some point in time was occupied by Phonecians, Greeks, Arabs and Normans. Each of these groups helped create the unique Sicilian culture that shows up in its cuisine
1. Osteria Nona Dora - Buzzing local landmark offering hearty regional plates in a traditionally furnished dining room.
2. Osteria Pane e Alivi - A local Italian laid back restaurant
3. Antica Focacceria San Francesco - A brand of excellence and quality, with deep historical heritage that goes back to the Sicilian popular cuisine.
4. Cioccolateria Lorenzo - A perfect spot for a tea, coffee break and delicious chocolate desserts
5. I Segreti del Chiostro - Located inside Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, I Segreti del Chiostro specializes in Italian desserts and pastries, including their famous Canoli
6. Ristorante La Galleria - Sicilian seafood pasta & meats in a rustic trattoria with tables in a narrow alley.
7. Locanda del Gusto - A restaurant with a lovely courtyard to stop by for lunches and dinners
8. Sfrigola Palermo - A takeaway or sit down place for Arancinos
WHERE TO STAY
Palermo has a wide range of choices of accommodations, from Airbnb to hotels. I would suggest staying closer to the city to make the most of it. Especially the city is fairly walkable. However, if your plan is to explore beyond Palermo then hiring a car would be a good idea.
Palermo has 25 neighbourhoods, each with its own vibe and atmosphere. Some of them should be avoided, mostly because of the high crime rate, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid this city.
Palermo has several neighbourhoods that are safe and well set up for tourists. They’re also filled with fascinating people and history as well as incredible places to eat.
Some suggestions to explore on where to stay in Palermo:
Storie di Palermo is set 350 yards from Fontana Pretoria and 250 yards from Palermo Cathedral. These cute self-contained rooms are a perfect place to stay in close proximity to Palermo old historical centre.
In the heart of the UNESCO Arab-Norman city, La Terrazza sul Centro Rooms & Breakfast dominates the alleys and squares of the biggest historic centre in Europe. The name is due to the panoramic sundeck on the roof, with a breath-taking view from dawn to sunset on Casa Professa and other unmissable architecture treasures.
A special and incredible establishment with a unique personality, located in the heart of Palermo. Walking distance from the cathedral .
Nestled in the historical centre of Palermo, the Porta di Castro is set in a carefully restored townhouse dating back to the 1500s.
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