Palermo Travel Guide

Sicily's elegant capital, in Palermo you can breathe the cultural mix of decades of diverse domination that have enriched the city with a unique and irrepressible personality.

From the local markets of the Vucciria to the Norman Palace and city cathedral, Palermo is an unusual blend of Arab-Norman style. Amongst the streets of the city, pane e panelle, the local bread and chickpea fries, are a temptation for the palate, while the Palatine Chapel and its mosaic art is a must to visit.

Top 10 of what to see
Massimo Theatre
Norman Palace, Palazzo dei Normanni
The Palatine Chapel, Cappella Palatina
The Martorana Church
The Church of San Cataldo
Palermo's cathedral
The local markets of Vucciria, Ballarò and Capo
Mondello beach
The archaeological site of Villa Bonanno
Regional Art Gallery of Palazzo Abatellis

Events
July
The Festival of Saint Rosalia is known by Palermitan locals as u fistinu and is a celebration in honour of the patron saint of the city. Already in the first days of the month the city's inhabitants begin preparations for the festival with a prelude of concerts and shows.
The 14th of July is the beginning of the Saint's procession, her statue and carriage transported through the city streets, from the Norman Palace down to the sea. The carriage is a sight to behold and in recent years has even been decorated with Swarowsky crystal and bunches of red roses.

Palermo's typical food and drink
Pasta with sardines
Without doubt Palermo's typical dish is a pasta with sardines, a simple plate that makes good use of the abundant blue fish, similar to anchovies, of the Mediterranean. The local touch is to add some wild fennel to the mix.
Panelle
Palermo's panelle are like the English potato scallop only these fried patties are made out of ground chick peas. They are a nifty and quick snack Palermitan style and date back to the era of Arab rule, like many other traditional local recipes.

Spotlight on Boccaccio and the Cuba Palace of Palermo
Built in 1180 by Norman monarch William II, the Cuba Palace played host to the royal court and was encircled by an immense park and citrus gardens. Inside the building is an unusual epigraph, a prayer written in Arabic to a Christian king. The epigraph is testimony to the respect Sicily's Norman invaders held for its Arab inhabitants, who had brought new technologies and development to Palermo. In turn, Italian writer Boccaccio was so taken with the Cuba Palace that he also made it the set of one of his famous Decameron fables.

How to arrive
Palermo is the capital of the region of Sicily and is the island's largest city. It is accessible by plane, ship, car or train.
By Plane: The international airport of Punta Raisa is 35km from the city centre.
By Car: Take the A19 freeway from Catania or the A20 from Messina
By Boat: The Civil Port of Palermo is well connected to Livorno, Cagliari, Naples, Civitavecchia, Genoa and Tunisia on top of local hydrofoil services between the Aeolian Islands and Ustica.
Other: Palermo's Central Station provides rail and bus service for inter-regional and local travel.