Palermo

The ancient gateway to Sicily

Beautifully situated on the Bay of Palermo is a dazzling city where Norman, Arab, Roman, and Greek culture converge. Palermo's scenic surroundings are no less amazing with a flow of fertile plains, citrus groves, and mountains melding together into the lush green of the Sicilian isle.

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Must Sees in Palermo

Santissima Trinita alla Magione Church, built in the 12th century, Norman style of architecture
Fontana Pretoria-gorgeous 16th-century fountain, sculpted by Francesco Camilliani with many mythological beings
San Giovanni degli Eremiti-12th-century Norman church; features the distinctive red domes, arched windows and nearby cloister
Zisa-12th-century Moorish castle
La Cala Harbor
Teatro Politeama-grand concert hall
Teatro Massimo-famous neoclassical opera house

Map of Palermo

Palermo is a microcosm of Sicily. Ethnically you will see a mixture of fair-skin, blue-eyed people along with others of a darker olive complexion and jet-black hair. You will notice western style castles evocative of northern France paired with architecture that is decidedly Arab. Such a duality infused with healthy doses of Ancient Greek and Roman influences makes Palermo one of Italy's most enthralling cities, offering guests some of the Sicily's best museums, art, churches, and cuisine.

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Shopping in Palermo

Like the city itself, the markets in Palermo are a dizzying array of selections in food, fabrics, clothes, crafts and treasures. A shopper may find hand-crafted jewelry; gourmet shops offer stuffed vegetables, dried tomatoes, fish, and other Sicilian specialties. Some famous shopping areas include Via della Libertà and La Vucciria. Keep in mind that the markets get more crowded as the morning goes into afternoon. Off the Piazza San and Via Roma, the white stones of La Vucciria is festooned with vendors with fresh food-vegetables and fruits, spices, meats and seafood, as well as clothes and artworks.