To check out Palermo is to experience the city’s contrasts at every edge. Grand royal residences stand together with historic ruins, and bright squares lead to a puzzle of slim, shaded roads.
With an abundant, complicated background going back to classical times, Palermo was founded around the 8 th century BC and has actually seen many occupiers, consisting of Arab, Norman, Byzantine, French, and Spanish leaders. Come and discover the many historical sites in Palermo– a city with a distinct character.
What to Do in Palermo: Discover Sicily’s Resources and One of Europe’s Oldest Cities
1 The Norman Royal Residence and the Palatine Chapel
The Norman Royal residence is representative of Palermo’s one-of-a-kind cultural mix. As soon as a Punic and Roman fortress, after that a home for Muslim emirs and Norman kings, today it acts as the region’s parliament. Its emphasize is the Palatine Church, a spectacular area covered in medieval mosaics and opulent decors.
2 Palermo Sanctuary
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, going back to the 12 th century, mixes Romanesque architecture with Arab influences. Improved the site of a previous mosque (and before that, a Roman holy place), the cathedral features luxuriant outside facades contrasting with an extra austere Baroque interior.
3 Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele: Italy’s Largest Cinema
Teatro Massimo, Italy’s biggest music hall and the third-largest in Europe, can seat over 1, 600 visitors and accommodate 700 entertainers on stage. Recovered and reopened in 1997, it’s an excellent site worth a visit.
4 The Palaces of Palermo
Palermo’s roads are lined with grand palaces, frequently available to the public. Along Via Maqueda, find Palazzo Grassellini, Comitini, and Mazzarino, while movie theater lovers can go to Palazzo Gangi, popular for its ballroom scene in The Leopard Likewise, do not miss out on the 12 th-century Zisa Pleasure Palace, showcasing Arabic style commissioned by Norman King William I.
5 Palermo’s Many Attractive Squares
Palermo’s squares use a peek right into the city’s background and culture. Quattro Canti, a baroque crossroads, notes the town hall. Nearby, Piazza Bellini features the sensational Church of the Martorana, while Piazza Pretoria flaunts a grand 16 th-century water fountain.
6 The Capuchin Catacombs
One of Palermo’s most unusual yet preferred sites, the Capuchin Catacombs house 8, 000 mummified corpses in an underground chamber, protected in clothes as a testimony to a distinct cultural technique.
7 Palermo’s Road Food and Markets
Experience the tastes of Sicily at Palermo’s markets, such as Ballaro and Vucciria. Sample regional delicacies like Pane con la Milza, pasta with sea urchins, and panelle, a deep-fried chickpea reward, paired with fresh spremuta d’arancia (orange juice).
8 A Boat Journey
A boat journey is an amazing means to experience Sicily’s coastal elegance, with one-day or two-day cruises providing drop in locations like the Aeolian Islands and spectacular sights of Vulcano.
9 Even More Sights in Palermo
- Vucciria Market
- Albergheria Area
- Antonio Salinas Regional Archaeological Gallery
- Palermo Arboretum
10 Points to Do Around Palermo
Sicily provides many impressive sites simply outside of Palermo, including Monreale Cathedral, Mondello Coastline, and the community of Cefalù. Venture further to explore the Valley of the Forehead in Agrigento, obtainable by a two-hour train ride.