If you are planning a vacation to Italy and are coming up with an itinerary, you should strongly consider a visit to Palermo, Sicily for your vacation, it is a city that will amaze you!
Full of charm, Palermo has been home and crossroads of different cultures, which have made it the beautiful city it is today. Furthermore, Palermo has a historic center that is a true open-air museum, made up of Arab-Norman palaces and wonderful churches. In the hottest summer months, its proximity to the sea makes it an ideal destination for those who love to alternate cultural visits with a few hours spent on the beach. And thanks to its mild and favorable climate, it is possible to visit the city in every month of the year.
Palermo has been influenced over the centuries especially by the Arab and Norman dominations and this past can still be seen in its peculiar architecture. Starting right from the network of streets of the Kalsa, the neighborhood built by the Arabs, you can observe it in all its grandeur, and be fascinated by how it has developed over the centuries.
Norman Palace – Palatine Chapel
There are many suggestive places and monuments to visit in Palermo. The Norman Palace with its Palatine Chapel is certainly the most visited monument in the city. The building is the oldest royal residence in Europe and owes its construction to the Norman Roger II who wanted it as the seat of the kingdom. Over the centuries it was continually expanded and embellished. But the most extraordinary building of the entire complex is certainly the Palatine Chapel, with its wonderful Byzantine mosaics, but also for the floors and ceilings in Arabic style, that make the church a meeting point between Christian culture and Islamic architecture.
Palermo Cathedral
Another wonderful monument to visit is undoubtedly the Cathedral of Palermo, which in the past served as both a church and a fortress. Its construction began in 1170 and over the centuries it has undergone continuous restorations and additions. Its portico with Arabesque decorations immediately strikes you. The interior of the Cathedral is a succession of works of art and reaches its peak in the chapel of Santa Rosalia (patron saint of the city), whose remains are enclosed in a precious silver urn of fine workmanship. Finally, the Cathedral houses the tombs of the Sicilian monarchs, among which the funeral monument of Frederick II stands out.
The Zisa Castle
The Zisa Castle is another building of Arab-Norman origin. Inside, the elegant Fountain Hall is a fine example of oriental architecture. This ancient building has a cubic shape and is covered with marble and mosaics; the ceilings, moreover, are enriched by the typical decoration of Arab buildings. Since the Zisa was built as a summer residence, a natural ventilation system was designed to best diffuse the sea breezes through holes in the floor. A true engineering miracle for the time.
Then we have the “Cuba”, another ancient building whose shape recalls a cube, characterized by four projecting towers and decorated with mullioned windows and arches. At the same time, an other palace, the little Cuba, was also built: a square tower with pointed arches surmounted by a red hemispherical dome typical of Arab architecture.
The Catacombs of Palermo
Another symbolic place of the city are the famous Catacombs of the Capuchins, an underground cemetery where skeletons and mummies of the richest members of the city are preserved, becoming a sort of post-mortem privilege for the wealthiest classes. The burial rite was quite elaborate, and required a natural drying of the bodies. The work continued until 1881 when burials were prohibited. What remains is this macabre collection of bodies that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Besides to visit palaces and monuments, an other thing to do in Palermo is definitely a tour of its historic markets, located in the heart of the city where you can taste some typical local street food dishes, and taste dishes such as “Arancina” (a ball of breaded and fried rice, generally stuffed with ragù, peas and cheese); “Pane e Panelle”, crispy chickpea flour fritters that fill a soft sesame bun; and “Pani câ Meusa”, sandwiches topped with slaughter scraps such as calf spleen and lung, boiled and then browned in lard. Fish lovers cannot miss the “Purpu vugghiutu”: it is cooked octopus, cut into thick slices, seasoned with lemon and served on a paper plate. The three main open markets of Palermo are: Vucciria, Capo and Ballarò. The latter is certainly the oldest and most characteristic market of the city. Its epicenter is Piazza del Carmine where the baroque church of the same name stands out.
For those who want to take advantage of Palermo’s favorable climate and its wonderful sea, you can go to nearby Mondello to enjoy its splendid beach and dive into a sea so blue and clean that it is difficult to believe that there is a big city nearby.
Rich in history, culture, beaches and excellent cuisine, Palermo is therefore a perfect destination for an unforgettable holiday. Furthermore, it is not only one of the most fascinating cities in Italy, but it is also an excellent base for exploring Sicily.
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For more information on Palermo check out my Palermo Travel Guide available on Amazon. You will learn how to get around, what to see, the major monuments, popular day trips, traditional cuisine and more!