In this video, I am visiting the Royal Gardens of Palermo, Sicily. They are part of the Royal Palace, also known as the Norman Palace of Palermo. In Italian, they are referred to as the Palazzo Reale or the Palazzo dei Normanni, respectively.
The palace is one of the must-see attractions if you visit Palermo on your vacation.
While visiting the Royal Gardens or after your visit, there is a café on the grounds where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, a croissant, and more.
I am not sure if the name was correct on the sign, but it was called an Australian fig monroe tree. The tree is giant with an impressive root system. I know these trees can live for a long time, even hundreds of years. I’m not sure how old the tree in the video is.
What do Pine Combs Represent in Sicily
In Sicily, these pine combs are supposed to bring good luck, prosperity, and even fertility for newlyweds. After a bride and groom were married, they would hang the pines outside of their bedroom to help bring fertility.
Sicily, of course, is the land where the mafia originated. This ties into the famous saying from The Godfather movie by Mario Puzo: “May your first child be a son.”
There are also palm trees located at the Royal Gardens of Palermo, Sicily. You will see many palm trees as you drive around Palermo, especially on the way to the Mondello beach resort.
There are also cacti located on the grounds.
Cactus Figs in Sicily
They are called Ficchi d’India. They produce a fruit or a flower at the end. Once they are cleaned of their thorns, they can be eaten and used to make fruits and jellies. They are supposed to be beneficial for digestion, as well as for individuals with diabetes. Prickly pears are another name for this plant.
You can also find an agave plant and some aloe on the grounds.
There are some pomegranate trees (melograni) located on the grounds bearing some fruit. And there are also many citrus trees located on the grounds. Sicily is a big cultivator of lemon, orange, grapefruit, fig, and lime trees. You will also find the very tart blood orange tree, which has a bright red pulp.
The Royal Gardens of Palermo are located within the Palazzo Reale, also known as the Royal Palace. They also refer to this as the Palazzo dei Normanni, since it was built during the time when the Normans ruled Sicily.
Sicily was ruled by a monarchy of kings and queens at that time. And this was the palace where the royalty resided.
Inside, you can view the bedrooms of the royal family along with the Cappella Palatina or the Palatine Chapel. This was a private chapel for the royal family. It is beautifully adorned on the inside with Byzantine mosaics and marble.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit attraction for your vacation to Palermo.
Italian Vocabulary for this Video:
Gardens – Giardini
Croissant – Cornetto
Croissants – Cornetti (plural)
Pine Comb – Pigna
Palace – Palazzo
Palm Tree – Palma
Palm Trees – Alberi di Palma
Palms – Palme
Pomegranate – Melagrana
Pomegranate tree – Melograno
You will often see melograno used to refer to both the fruit and the tree. When I visit Palermo, I often see signs for “spremute di melograno,” which technically refers to a fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice.
You may be interested in my Palermo, Italy vacation guide book.
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Visit the Norman Palace in Palermo Sicily
