Palermo is the capital of the main Italian island of Sicily, located on the north coast of the island.
Get in
By planePalermo International Airport is located some 32 km west of the city at Punta Raisi and has flights incoming from other Italian centres and major European cities on a regular basis. Half hourly shuttle buses provide inexpensive transport into the city centre (5 euros). There are 1-2 trains per hour, 50 minutes, €8 (destination Punta Raisi). The usual taxi and car rental services are also available at the airport.
By ferryFerries steam between the port of Palermo and the following Italian ports on a regular basis: Genoa, Civitàvecchia, Naples and Cagliari (Sardinia).
By TrainThrough trains from Roma and Napoli via the train ferry across the Messina straits.
Get around
BusGet a 24 hour ticket for €4. Many buses run on Via Roma. To ge to Pl Indipenza take bus 109 from the station.
CarJust don't do it.
Eat
Il Proverbio, Via Discesa 24, tel: +39091 6173267. Close to station and Quattro Canti. Great sicilian food. most dishes are €4-6.Al Chioschetto. Pz. Indipendenza Di Fronte N. 31. Close to the new gate. Excellent fresh panini and salads. They keep all the ingredients in a cooled glass counter, makes the panini from scratch when you order, using only freshly cut pieces of meat.Buy
Isola Saporita , Corso Vittorio Emanuele 504. opposite the cathedral., tel: +390916527506. Good selection of wine, oil, marmelade, sauces, etc.The "Pizzo free" shops are a group of shopkeepeers that refuse to pay the racket to the Mafia. The palermitan consumers sustain them by going shopping in their stores. You can find the list here: See
the Cathedral - honey-coloured and Catalan influencedthe Quattro Canti - the symbolic crossroads at the old centre of the city and the nearby small, but pretty La Martorana church with byzantine mosaics inside.the Museo Archeologicothe Catacombe dei Cappuccini, open daily 9am-12 noon and 3pm-5pm, donation on entry - the catacombs of the Capuchin convent located on the Piazza Cappuccini, just west of the city centre, contain over 8000 mummified ex-residents from Palermo and its surrounding villages, some merely clothed skeletons, other remarkably well-preserved and lifelike. Well worth a visit, interesting, if slightly morbid.the Palazzo dei Normanni. Inside, don't miss the mosaics in the Cappella Palatina and the old Royal Apartmentsthe 'street markets', especially near the Piazza del Carmine and Vucciria.Monreale - a village/suburb 8 km west of Palermo, sitting on the hill with a great view back towards the city and the sea. Be sure to visit the Duomo (Cathedral) and it's cloisters too.the Piazza Pretoria, including the Fontana PretoriaThe Gesu Church is one of the most architecturally important highly decorated in Palermo. Constructed between 1564–1633, it's late date of completion resulted in an abundant use of polychrome marbles on both floors and walls. This form of decoration, which gradually evolved in Sicily from the beginning of the 17th century, was to mark the beginning of the Sicilian Baroque period, which was to give Sicily almost an architectural national identity. San Giovanni degli Eremiti. Via dei Bernadetti. Tel: +39 91 6515019. Old church ruin and nice garden. The €6 admission ensures that the lovely garden is quiet and peaceful. Open mo-sa 9am-7pm.Cappella Palatina, Piazza Indipendenza, Tel: +39 091 7054317. Chapel with mosaics. Open mo-fr 9-11. 45am and 3-4.45pm. Sa 9-11.45am. Su 9-9.45am, 12-12.45pm.Sleep
BudgetMid-rangeHotel Casa Giuditta, Via Savona 10 - Piazza Kalsa, . Casa Giuditta is located in the historical city center of Palermo, in front of the sea,. It offers its guests air-conditioned beautiful rooms and apartments of the 17th century in the centre of the city, near the sea. Fully furnished of all modern commodities, air-condition, washing-machines, kitchen with oven, freezer, and dishwasher, satellite TV. Why choose an hotel if you can have your own apartment at the same price? Do not be a tourist, live as we live! Your children are welcome and we have a baby shop open 24 hours a day. Saint Thorn Guest Club, Via Spina Santa 210. Farmhouse Sait Thorn is inside the natural reserve of 'Capo Gallo' up on the hills of Palermo, from where one may enjoy a fine landscape over the Mondello's beach. Available at the Farmhouse: parking free in the near private street or in front the villa, Parking inside the villa at euros 5 only for 5 guests, free swimming pool, Multimedial hall with free Internet point, Sat TV, DVD VCR. All Rooms with services in suite, including Italian television, air dryer, air conditioned and a refrigerator. Available also 2 rooms with kitchnette for minimum stay of 5 days. All rooms have free access from outsiside. The center of Palermo it is at about 15 minutes of bus/car, the Mondello's beach at 10 minutes of bus/car, the airport is at 20 minutes of bus/car. The nearest bus or underground stop are at about 900 mt of mountain road in beaten ground, from the farmhouse, located inside the natural reserve of Capo Gallo( high 200 mt).Le Casette, Via Torretta 7. Le Casette, that means in Italian 'little houses' are a group of one and two bedroom studios, set in a lovely seafront position, in the well known marine area of Palermo, nearby the Natural Reserve of Capo Gallo. Studios, simply but comfortable, are provided with a nice outdoor yard, perfect for relaxing during the day and for you romantic moonlight dinners. Sferracavallo, well connecetd by public transport to Palermo, is the ideal base for a relaxing holiday by the sea and for culturals visit to the artistic treasures of Palermo. If you come by car, you may want to take the opportunity to explore the western side of Sicily, and organise beautiful excursions to the Isola delle Femmine island, to San Vito Lo Capo, up to Erice, Mozia, Marsala, Selinunte, Segesta.We offer an easy and convenient program of Bed&Cooking. Le Casette are comfortable independent little apartments, two-roomed or one room studio, consisting of one indipendent room, completely new, set in a building in the heart of the marine area of Sferracavallo, in the proximity of Palermo. We are located just 30 meters from the sea and 2 km from Mondello, the famous resort area of the Palermo city coast.Hotel Gallery House, Via Mariano Stabile 136, 90139, Ph. +39.091.6124758 Fax +39.091.6124779. . In the heart of Palermo, Hotel Gallery House offers elegant classy rooms, the ideal solution for business or pleasure travel.Hotel Italy. Via Roma 62, 4. floor, 100 meter from the train station. Tel: +39091 6230656, email: hotelitalia62@hotmail.com. Good clean rooms with new bathrooms, AC, TV, and balcony with clotheslines. €60, no breakfast.Hotel Conchiglia D'Oro,Viale Cloe, 9, 90151 Palermo Ph. +39 091.450359, Fax: +39 091.450359 . In Mondello, between Villas and gardens, unwind from the summer chaos, Hotel Conchiglia d’Oro welcomes guests in a sober environment enriched with comfort and service for an excellent stay. Check the web for more infos.Hotel Joli,Via Michele Amari, 11, 90139 Palermo Ph. +39 091.6111765, Fax: +39 091.6111766 . Hotel Joli is a true jewel as far as hospitality is concerned, where rooms adorned with frescoes and the finest decor as well as the most modern services and comfort, provide the traveler the most delightful of stays. Villa Cefalà,Via SS 113, 48, 90017 Santa Flavia - Palermo Tel. +39 091.931545, Fax: +39 091.941616 . The Villa Cefalà farm holiday offers charming rooms in a period residence thirty minutes from Palermo overlooking the sea on Sicily's northern coast.SplurgeHotel Residenza D’Aragona, Via Ottavio D'Aragona, 25, 90139 Palermo Ph. +39 091.6622222, Fax: +39 091.6622273 . Elegant and opulent, filled with modern comforts and impeccable services, the rooms at Hotel Residenza D'Aragona are the best for those who are traveling for business or pleasure to Palermo: in the historical center, near the grandiose Politeama and Massimo theaters. Single from 80€ Double from 120€.Cope
Palermo's main APT Tourist Office is located at Piazza Castelnuovo 35, open Mo-Fr 8am-8pm and Sa 8 am-2pm. English spoken. A branch of the tourist office also exists at the airport. Get a free map from one of the blue infomation booths.
InternetInternet Shop. Via Napoli N, 32. Tel: +39 091 584146. 13 computers, E2.5/hour. Wireless internet.Mediapoint Via Maqueda 221, tel:+39 091 326651. 4c/min.Aboriginal Internet Cafe Via S. Spinuzza 51, close to Teatro Massimo. Tel: +39 091 6622229. Also serves beer and drinks with obscene names.Stay safe
Beware of pickpockets and motorcycle-riding snatch thieves targeting handbags, wallets and mobile phones.
Women should not walk alone at night in the historical centre of Palermo and travellers of both sexes should also avoid the area between Via Roma and the port after dark.
Vehicle theft is a major problem in Palermo, so the use of private, secure car parks is to be preferred.
Get out
Palermo is the main hub for buses and trains in Sicily. The main station -
Stazione Centrale is near the centre. Most of the long-distance buses leave from just round the corner, as do those to the airport.
By trainRegular, quite fast trains to: Messina & Milazzo (for the Aeolian Islands)(more and quicker than the busses to these two), Catania, Trapani and Enna. Less frequent to other destinations.
By busRegular, fast buses to Catania, Taormina, Trapani, Enna, Agrigento, and Syracuse. Loads of other places served too.
Palermo (
Palermo in Italian,
Palermu,
Palemmu,
Paliermu or
Paliemmu in Sicilian) is the principal city and administrative seat of the autonomous region of Sicily, Italy as well as the capital of the Province of Palermo. Inhabitants of Palermo in Italian are referred to as
Palermitani or poetically
Panormiti.
History
Palermo was founded in the 8th century BC by Phoenician tradesmen around a natural harbour on the north-western coast of Sicily. The Phoenician name for the city may have been Zîz, but Greeks called it
Panormus (see also List of traditional Greek place names), meaning all-port, because of its fine natural harbour. It should be noted however that the city was never a Greek city-state, but was later part of the Greek speaking Eastern Roman Empire . Palermo is widely considered to be the most conquered city in the world, as shown in the following article.
Palermo remained a Phoenician city until the First Punic War (264-241 BC), when Sicily fell under Roman rule. The Roman period was one of comparative calm, Palermo coming under the provincial administration in Syracuse. When the Roman Empire was split, Sicily and Palermo came under the rule of the Eastern Byzantine Empire.
In the 9th century, Sicily was divided into two prefectures by the Byzantines. The two prefects went to war with each other, and Euphimius, the winner, dreamt of reuniting the Roman empire. However, he lacked an army, so he asked the Arab Aghlabids rulers of North Africa, at the time the up-and-coming power in the Mediterranean, to lend him theirs. Within a week of the Arabs' arrival in Palermo in 827, Euphimius died mysteriously, and they declined to leave. By 878 all of Sicily, except for a few Byzantine enclaves near Taormina, was controlled by the Saracens. In 905 they captured those too. The Arab rulers moved Sicily's capital to Palermo where it has been ever since.
Under Muslim dominion Palermo became an important commercial and cultural center, a flourishing city broadly known in the whole Arab world - it is said that it had more than 300 mosques. But they were also years of tolerance: Christians and Jews were permitted to follow their own credo.
In 1060 the Normans launched a crusade against the Muslim emirate of Sicily, taking Palermo on January 10 1072 and the whole island by 1091. The resulting blend of Norman and Arab culture fostered a unique hybrid style of architecture as can be seen in the Palatine Chapel, the church San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Zisa.
Sicily in 1194 fell under the control of the Holy Roman Empire. Palermo was the preferred city of the Emperor Frederick II. After an interval of Angevin rule (1266-1282), Sicily came under the house of Aragon and later, in (1479), the kingdom of Spain.
Sicily's unification (1734) with the Bourbon-ruled kingdom of Naples as the kingdom of the Two Sicilies inflicted a devastating blow on the elite of Palermo, as the city was reduced to just another provincial city, the royal court residing in Naples. Palermo rebelled in 1848 and held out against the Neapolitan crown until May 1849.
The Italian
Risorgimento and Sicily's annexation (1860) to the kingdom of Italy gave Palermo a second chance. It was once again the administrative centre of Sicily, and there was a certain economic and industrial development.
Palermo survived almost the entire fascist period unscathed, but during the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 it suffered heavy damage.
The importance of Palermo got another boost when Sicily became (1947) an autonomous region with extended self-rule. But any improvement was thwarted by the rising power of the Mafia, which still today is a dramatic feature of the city, as well as the whole Southern Italy.
Palermo is a city with monumental problems, but is also a city of almost three millennia of history, beautiful palaces and churches, colourful markets, marvelous food and a distinctive cultural identity.
Twin Cities
Palermo (Colombia) Santiago de Cuba (Cuba) Khan Younis (Palestina) Monterey (Canada) Biserta (Tunisia) Tblisi (Georgia) Miami (United States) Chengdu (Cina) Bukavu (Democratic Repubblic of the Congo) Jaroslavl (Russia) Gdańsk (Poland)Main sights
Palermo has a noteworthy architectural heritage and is notable for its many Norman buildings.
ChurchesThe Cathedral of Palermo (a former mosque turned into a church from 1185).San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi (1071)San Giovanni degli Eremiti (1132)Martorana (Santa Maria dell'Ammiragliato, 1143)San Cataldo (12th century)Santa Maria della GangiaSan Giuseppe dei TeatiniOratorio di San LorenzoOratorio del RosarioSanta Teresa alla Kalsa derives its name from Al-Khalisa, an arab term meaning elected. The church, constructed in 1686-1706 over the former emir's residence, is one of the most outstanding examples of Sicilian Baroque. It has a single, airy nave, with stucco decorations from the early 18th century.Santa Maria dello Spasimo was built in 1506 and later turned into a hospital. For this temple Raphael painted his famous Sicilia's Spasimo, now in the Museo del Prado of Madrid. The church today is a fascinating air-open ruin, which occasionally houses exhibitions and musical shows.the Church of the Jesus (Chiesa del Gesù) was built by the Jesuits in the centre of the city from 1564, over a pre-existing convent of Basilian monks. The edifice was further enlarged starting from 1591, becoming one of the most relevant examples of Sicilian Baroque, though retaining some severe late Renaissance fashion. The church was heavily damaged after the 1943 bombings, which destroyed most of the frescoes. The interior has a Latin cross plan with a nave and two aisles, characterized by a particularly rich decoration of marbles, tarsias and stuccoes, especially in the St. Anne chapel. At the right is the Casa Professa, with a 1685 portal and a precious 18th century cloister. The Church of the Jesus is home to the Municipal Library, placede here in 1775.The church of St. Francis of Assisi, erected in what was once the market district of the city. It was built between 1255 and 1277 in the site of two pre-existing churches, and was largely renovated in the 15th, 16th, 18th and 19th centuries, the latter after an earthquake. After the 1943 bombings, the church was restored to its Mediaeval appearance, which now includes part of the original building such as part of the right side, the apses and the Gothic portal in the façade. The interior has a typical Gothic flavour, with a nave and two aisles separated by two rows of cylindrical pilasters. Some of the chapels are in Renaissance style, as well as the late 16th century side portals. The church includes precious sculptures by Antonio and Giacomo Gagini, and Francesco Laurana, plus a noteworthy wooden choir dating from the 16th century. Of note are also the allegorical statues by Giacomo Serpotta (1723), also author of the stucco decoration.The church of the Magione (officially church of the Holy Trinity), an ancient example of Norman architecture. The church was founded in 1191 by Matteo d'Ajello, who donated it to the Cistercian monks.Palaces and museumsPalazzo dei Normanni, one of the most beautiful Italian palaces and a notable example of Norman architecture, probably built over an Arab fortress. It houses the famous Cappella Palatina.Zisa (1160)Cuba Palazzo ChiaramontePalazzo Abatellis, with the Regional Gallery. It was built at the end of the 15th century for the prefect of the city, Francesco Abatellis. It is a lassive though elegant construction, in typical Catalan Gothic style, with Renaissance influences. The Gallery houses an Elenora of Aragon bust by Francesco Laurana (1471) and the Malvagna Triptych (c. 1510), by Jan Gossaert and the famous Annunziata by Antonello da Messina.The Museo Archeologico Regionale is one the main museums of Italy: it includes numerous remains from Etruscan, Carthaginian, Roman and Hellenistic civilizations.TheatresThe Teatro Massimo ("Greatest Theatre") was opened in 1897. Closed for renovation from 1974 until 1997, it is now carefully restored and has an active schedule. Enrico Caruso sang in a performance of La Gioconda during the opening season, returning for Rigoletto at the very end of his career.The Teatro Politeama was built between 1867 and 1874. Nowadays, the town's Gallery of Modern Art is accommodated here. Places Quattro Canti is a small place at the crossing of the ancient main roads (now: Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda) dividing the town into its quarters. The palaces at the corner have diagonal baroque facades so that the place gets an almost octagonal form. Piazza Pretoria was planified in the 16th century near der Quattro Canti as a place for a manieristic fountain by Francesco Camilliani, the Fontana Pretoria.Other sightsThe Cathedral has a heliometer (solar "observatory") of 1690, one of a number built in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries. The device itself is quite simple: a tiny hole in one of the minor domes acts as Pinhole camera, projecting an image of the sun onto the floor at solar noon (12:00 in winter, 13:00 in summer). There is a bronze line,
la Meridiana on the floor, running precisely N/S. The ends of the line mark the positions as at the summer and winter solstices; signs of the zodiac show the various other dates throughout the year.
The purpose of the instrument was to standardise the measurement of time and the calendar. The convention in Sicily had been that the(24 hour) day was measured from the moment of sun-rise, which of course meant that no two locations had the same time and, more importantly, did not have the same time as in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It was also important to know when the Vernal Equinox occurred, to provide the correct date for Easter.
The Orto botanico di Palermo, founded in 1785, is the largest in Italy with a surface of 10 ha.
One site of interest is the Capuchin Catacombs, with many mummified corpses in varying degrees of preservation.
Close to the city is 600 meter high Monte Pellegrino, with spectacular views of the city, its surrounding mountains and the ocean. In his book, "Travels in Italy", Goethe described Monte Pellegrino as the most beautiful promontory in the world.
Sports
Palermo has its own football team, U.S. Città di Palermo, playing in Italian Serie A and in UEFA Cup. The chairman is Maurizio Zamparini and the coach is Francesco Guidolin (appointed on January 29, 2006). They are currently lying third in the Serie A, 11 points behind Inter Milan. They have equalled a club record in winning five consecutive Serie A matches.
They are also playing in the UEFA Cup, currently sitting second in Group H with two matches to play.
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it used to be one of the oldest sports car racing events until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns but has since run as a rallying event.
Patron saints
The patron saint of Palermo is Santa Rosalia, who is still widely venerated.
On the 14th of July, people in Palermo celebrate the "Festino", which is the most important religious event of the year. The Festino is a procession in the main street of Palermo to remember the miracle attributed to Santa Rosalia who, it is believed, freed the city from the Black Death in 1624. The cave where the bones of Santa Rosalia were discovered is on Monte Pellegrino (see above): when her relics were carried around the city three times, the plague was lifted. There is a Santuario marking the spot and can be reached via a scenic bus ride from the city below.
Before 1624 Palermo had four patron saints, one for each of the four major parts of the city. They were Saint Agatha, Saint Christina, Saint Ninfa and Saint Olivia.
Saint Lucy is also honoured with a peculiar celebration, during which inhabitants of Palermo don't eat anything made with flour, but boil wheat in its natural state and use it to prepare a special dish called cuccia. This commemorates the saving of the city from famine through the intercession of St Lucia. A ship full of grain mysteriously arrived in the city's harbour and the population was so hungry that they did not waste time in making flour but ate the grain as it had arrived.
Transport
Palermo International Airport, also known as Falcone-Borsellino Airport, Punta Raisi Airport: dedicated to Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two anti-mafia judges killed by the mafia in early 1990s, is located 32 km (19 miles) west of Palermo (Punta Raisi). Buses depart roughly every 30 minutes from the central railway station to the airport
The airport can also be reached by trains departing from Centrale, Notarbartolo and Francia stations.
References
Patrizia Fabbri, Palermo e Monreale, Bonechi, Florence, 2005.Aymn Almsaodi, The Desert RaceSee also
List of mayors of PalermoOther towns in the province: Termini Imerese, Monreale, Bagheria, Cefalù, CariniOther major towns in Sicily: Marsala, Agrigento, Siracusa (Syracuse), Catania, Taormina, Messina External links
The City Council websitePalermo in Buenos AiresOfficial tourism website for the cityA paper from University of Bologna describing Heliometers in Italian CathedralsThe official website of Palermo's Serie A soccer teamPalermo in picturesInformation about the city of Palermo (In Italian)
