Palermo Photo: Viada Zhi/Shutterstock.com Capital of the beautiful region of Sicily, Palermo is a fascinating hidden gem and a busy port city that brims with energy. Continuously changing, this city has reclaimed its place among Europe’s cultural cities. Palermo is full of sights and treasures, from Baroque churches and glorious Norman-Gothic architecture to Art Nouveau villas and lively markets the flamboyant spirit of Palermo can be found down every corner of the city's chaotic streets. lapas77/Shutterstock.com Top 5 Palazzo dei Normanni The former royal palace of King Roger II in the 1100’s, Palazzo dei Normanni... Palatine Chapel The royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily, Cappella Palatina is the fin... Pretoria Square Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock.com The grandiose Piazza Pretoria captivates with its fountain, spreading proudl... Palermo Cathedral One of the major example of Sicliy's unique encounter of architectonic style... Quattro Canti Also known as Piazza Vigliena, Quattro Canti is considered as one of the mos... Victoria43/Shutterstock.com Updated 12 August 2019 Destination: Palermo Publishing date: 2019-08-12 THE CITY DO & SEE Roman Babakin/Shutterstock.com lapas77/Shutterstock.com The Phoenicians founded Palermo as a trade port Thanks to its rich and varied history, Palermo in 700 BC, and a long string of rulers followed. and its surrounding areas are full of Carthage was the rst to conquer it, followed by architectural treasures just waiting to br the Romans, the Vandals and Arabian rulers who discovered. Many of the sights are conveniently transformed it into a magical city with mosques, situated in the city centre: in the old town you minarets and markets. will nd treasures like Palazzo dei Normanni, as During the crusades, the city was conquered by well as the beautiful Santa Caterina Church and the Normans who continued building on the the spectacular Piazza Pretoria. For a getaway Arabian legacy of tolerance and enlightenment. from the hustle and bustle of the city, the That era is known as Palermo's "The Golden beautiful volcanic island Ustica is a safe bet and Era". will not disappoint you. Today tourists are discovering a city with an Palazzo dei Normanni exciting mix of medieval areas whit clothes hung The former royal palace on lines between buildings and elegant of King Roger II in the residential districts with palm trees and palatial 1100’s, Palazzo dei villas. Palermo is a city with stunning historical Normanni is one of the sights, a mouth-watering gastronomy tradition, most famous sights in crystal-clear waters and an energetic Palermo. Dating back to atmosphere. the 9th century, the palace owes its current appearance to the embellishments realized by the Normans: covered in dazzling Byzantine mosaics, the Arab-Norman architecture is a symbol of the political and cultural union operated by the Normans. Check out the stunning Palatine Chapel Photo: Nadiia_foto/Shutterstock.com Address: Piazza Indipendenza Public Transport: Underground: station Orlenas, Bus: 304, 104, 108, 118, 105, 110 Destination: Palermo Publishing date: 2019-08-12 Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 08:15 - 17:40, Sunday and to Palermo. The fountain is a true masterpiece Holidays: 08:15 - 13:00 and considered being one of the most beautiful Phone: +39 091 705 56 11 fountains in Italy. Internet: www.federicosecondo.org Email: [email protected] The nude gures adorning the fountain has got More Info: Last admission one hour before closing time the most prudish population of the city to nickname the square "Piazza della Vergogna", Palatine Chapel Square of Shame. The royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily, Photo: lapas77/Shutterstock.com Address: Piazza Pretoria Cappella Palatina is the nest example of the Palermo Cathedral Arab-Norman art in the One of the major example city. Every inch is a of Sicliy's unique jubilation of craftmanship, from the golden encounter of mosaics covering the walls, to the marble oors architectonic styles, and carved, wooden ceilings. Palermo's cathedral is the The chapel is located inside the Normans Palace results of century of (Palazzo dei Normanni) and there's likely a additions, redecoration and restorations. It was queue at the entrance, so try to get here at the built on 1185 on the site of a former byzantine opening in the morning. church, which was used as a mosque during the Photo: Vaido Otsar/WikiCommons (image cropped) 9th century and it encompass Medieval, Gothic, Address: Piazza Indipendenza Arabic and Neoclassical style. Public Transport: Underground: station Orleans, Bus: 304, Climb up to the roof and enjoy a great view over 104, 108, 118, 105, 110 the city. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 08:15 - 17:40, Sunday and Holidays: 08:15 - 13:00 Photo: Kirk Gulden/Shutterstock.com Phone: +39 091 705 56 11 Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele Internet: www.federicosecondo.org Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 07:00 - 19:00, Sunday and Email: [email protected] Holidays: 08:00 - 13:00 & 16:00 - 19:00 More Info: Last admission on hour before closing time Phone: +39 091 334 373 Internet: www.cattedrale.palermo.it Pretoria Square More Info: Access to the roof: every 30 minutes from 10:00 to The grandiose Piazza 12.30 Pretoria captivates with its fountain, spreading Quattro Canti proudly in front of Also known as Piazza Palazzo Pretorio (City Vigliena, Quattro Canti is Hall) as one of the major considered as one of the symbols of Palermo. The Pretoria Fountain was mostfascinating sculpted by Francesco Camilliani in 1574 and landmarks of Palermo. initially placed in Florence for a few years, it was Located at the then bought by the municipality and transported intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Destination: Palermo Publishing date: 2019-08-12 Emanuele, it has an octagonal structure shaped ballet oicial season. by the elegant facades of the buildings standing The amboyant interiors can be visited with a at its corners. 30-minute tour available daily in several During the day, the sun is always shining on at languages. least one of the four facades: leading on this Baroque gem being nicknamed by locals "il Photo: Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock.com Address: Piazza Verdi teatro del sole", "the theatre of the sun" Opening hours: Tours available daily: 09:00 - 18:00 Phone: +39 091 60 53 267 Photo: Tamas Gabor/Shutterstock.com Internet: www.teatromassimo.it/eng Address: Piazza Vigliena Email: [email protected] Monreale Majolica Museum "Stanze al Genio" This little town with a A hidden gem in Palermo, population of 30,000 lies Stanze al Genio is a in the mountains private collection of 5000 southwest of Palermo. Its tiles from the 15th to the postcard-perfect views 20th century. The are only rivaled by the hand-painted tiles cover UNESCO-listed Norman masterpiece that is the walls and oors in the piano nobile of the Monreale Cathedral, Italy’s largest medieval 16th-century Palazzo Torre Pirajno. building which holds 6,000 square meters of On display is also a small collection of vintage Byzantine art. stationery and Italian toys. One of the most important examples of Norman Visits are possible only via guided tours that architecture in Europe, the cathedral is cover in must be booked in advance. shimmering golden mosaics and also encompass Arab, Byzantine and Classical elements. Photo: Marco Ossino/Shutterstock.com Address: Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 11 Photo: Roman Babakin/Shutterstock.com Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday: tours in English at 10:00 Address: Piazza Guglielmo II, Monreale and 15:00; tours in Italian at 11:00 and 16:00 Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 08:30 - 12:30 & 14:30 - Phone: +39 380 367 37 73 17:00 Sunday and Holidays: 08:00 - 09:30 & 14:30 - 17:00 Internet: www.stanzealgenio.it/en Phone: +39 327 351 08 86 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.monrealeduomo.it Email: [email protected] Church and Convent of Santa Caterina d'Alessandira Teatro Massimo Santa Caterina Church in A Neoclassical Palermo attracts visitors masterpiece, Teatro with its remarkable Massimo is one of the Sicilian Baroque largest opera houses in architecture: the walls Europe. Recently are full of ornamental restored, it is now the paintings and there are vibrant frescoes, lyrical temple of the city, staging the opera and intricately carves statues and stunning colorful Destination: Palermo Publishing date: 2019-08-12 marble interiors. busy street market will immediately make clear Don't miss out the magnicent majolica cloister how Sicily markets developed during the Arab and the view from the rooftop terrace. occupation. The bakery located inside the complex sells Part of the experience are the jingles sing by the sweet treats prepared with century old recipes vendors to attract customers while oering from Sicily's convents. samples to the passers-by. Photo: elesi/Shutterstock.com Photo: ildirettore/WikiCommons (image cropped) Address: Piazza Bellini Address: Via Ballaro Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 09:00 - 19:00, Sunday: Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 07:30 - 20:00. On Sunday 09:00 - 18:00. Terraces and Convent open daily 10:00 - 19:00 mainly open only during the morning. Phone: +39 091 271 38 37 Internet: www.monasterosantacaterina.com Palazzo Abatellis Art Gallery Email: [email protected] Allegedly the best art gallery of Palermo, the Archaeological Museum Galleria Regionale della Housed in a Renaissance Sicilia exhibits artworks monastery, Museo of Sicilian artist from the Archeologico Regionale Middle Age, artifacts has a rich collection of from the Arab period and paintings from the Roman and Ancient Greek 17th and 18th century. artefacts including many Take your time to admire the stunning Palazzo items spanning most of Palermo’s history. The Abatellis, built in the 15th century in highlight of the exhibition are the decorative Gothic-Catalan style.