At the nose of the Italian boot in Palermo

The capital of Sicily has wonderful and sometimes strange sights to see. It is a real Mediterranean city where time seems to move slower. Palermo is a part of Italy but it has a strong Sicilian heritage. Locals speak a special language and they have unique customs and lifestyle. They like to do things their way therefore they keep their afternoon siesta every day. It starts at around 12 and lasts until 4 in the afternoon. Don’t even try to get anything done during these hours! Most restaurants are closed too but you can get food and drinks in bars. Sicilians spend their time here so stick to the crowd to get an impression of local life.

Palermo has an international airport serviced by most airlines. Italian flights coming from Rome and low cost airlines will be your best option. If all else fails you can land in Catania and take a car or a train to Palermo. The city has a dominantly Mediterranean climate so summers are steaming hot. If you can’t stand the heat plan your visit for September. It is a bit cooler but the sea is very warm. Hot days are sometimes interrupted by quick showers.

The very best of Palermo sights

Palermo’s main sight is the cathedral. The giant building was started in the 12th century under Norman rule and it has been rebuilt and modified up until the 19th century. Inside you can see a giant golden Baroque altar and the tombs of kings with beautiful porphyry sarcophaguses. Another example of Palermo’s famous churches is the San Cataldo, which shows Norman and Arab architecture. You can see similar domes at the San Giovanni degli Eremiti church.

Palermo’s special place is the Quattro Canti, or Piazza Vigliena. This square shows four façades with each representing a district of the city. Every one of them has a patron saint and statues of kings. The Sun sheds light on all districts during the day. The Palazzo dei Normani was the seat of the kings of Sicily and the building itself represents the fine work of Arab, Norman and Byzantine craftsmen. The nearby Piazza Pretoria is famous for its white marble fountains. If you walk into the inner streets of the old town you’ll see a lot of small markets on the street. Buy some fresh fruit or drinks and never forget to bargain with the locals!

Palermo’s cuisine has a number of tasty dishes. As a matter of fact pasta with ragu is a staple food but you can taste some Sicilian delicacies. The arancino is a ball of rice filled with ragu or vegetables and then fried in breadcrumbs. Local marzipan is wonderful and they make them in a shape of fruits. The cannolo is a fried cake with sweet cream filling. Seafood, ricotta cheese, olives are the best in Italy.

There is a special place in Palermo called the Capuchin Catacombs. Monks figured out that the human body can be conserved through a certain balming process. It has become a popular way of burial and it was practiced till the middle of the 20th century. Today the crypt is a museum where you can see the city of the dead. It can be quite shocking!
Less scary is the Teatro Massimo, which is the highlight of Palermo’s cultural life. The theatre can be visited with a guide, who shows you around the building and you can sit in the king’s chair. The Palermo Botanical Garden has exhibits of the most beautiful flowers found on the island. If you want to see more, than travel to nearby cities like Monreale, with has marvelous cathedral. Cefalu is a romantic little village on the seashore one hour from Palermo.