SICILY TOURISM: Palermo, a mix of culture and history
Palermo
Palermo is the regional capital of Sicily. It is one of those cities with a very distinct atmosphere‚ a place of mystery‚ a mix of many cultures and every corner of the city has its story and history. Visiting this city is a must during your Sicilian holiday.
Palermo is a city that was raised by many cultures. It’s history tells us how it has passed from one dominating power to another. The strategic position of Sicily‚ lying at the center of the Mediterranean Sea‚ made the island a most wanted territory by the Phoenicians‚ the Greeks‚ Carthaginians‚ Arabs‚ Romans and Normans‚ just to name a few. Every one of these invaders left their marks on monuments‚ streets and neighborhoods; In architectural styles‚ in the local Sicilian dishes and in the Sicilian language.
The historical center is relatively small. All highlights of Palermo lie within a few square kilometers.
Must-visits of Palermo during you Sicilian holiday
The Politeama theater‚ the “theater of the people”‚ was built in 1874. Seen from outside‚ above its entrance on its roof stands a big bronze statue of Apollo and a pair of horses. It’s hall has the shape of a big horseshoe and can hold up to 5000 spectators. Today‚ the Politeama hosts symphonic music shows.
The Teatro Massimo lies very close to the Politeama and is the second theater of Europe after the Opèra de Paris. This theater opened its doors in 1897 with the Falsaff opera by Giuseppe Verdi. Currently the Teatro Massimo hosts operas and ballets.
Following the street of via Maqueda we can find the Piazza della Vergogna‚ or square of shame. This square has a central fountain‚ surrounded by statues. The story tells that the nuns of a monastery were annoyed by the great profusion of private parts exhibited by the statues and damaged them. Close to the square the curch of S. Giovanni degli Eremeti needs a visit‚ where one can admire a mix of islamic‚ roman and gothic influences of this building‚ resulting from the different invaders that dominated the city of Palermo.
Following the via Maqueda further on‚ lies the Quattro Canti‚ a square where four richly decorated facades divide the old city of Palermo into four districts (Loggia‚ Capo‚ Kalsa and Albergheria).
The cathedral of Palermo can be found close to the Quattro Canti and lies right in the heart of the historic center of Palermo. The cathedral of Palermo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its building was started in 1185 by the Normans. A very long history of alterations and restorations of the building followed which all left their marks giving the cathedral its multicultural aspect. The church and monumental area of the royal tombs‚ treasury‚ crypt and roof can be visited as tourist.
The Palazzo dei Normanni built in 1130 by the Normans in an era where Sicily dominated the Mediterranean Sea with Palermo as its capital. It is rich in architectural extraordinariness both of its exteriors as its interiors including the Palatine Chapel‚ the Pisan Tower‚ the Treasury room‚ the Hall of King Roger and the Hall of Hercules. Today it is the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly.
The Capuchins catacombs of Palermo are surely a very impressive place to visit. Here you can find mummified bodies of noblemen‚ bourgeois and representatives of the clergy from 1500 to the late 1800s. Bodies that are remarkably intact. A macabre spectacle that point out the uses‚ customs and traditions of the old Palermo society.
Palermo is well known for its multicultural markets. The Vucciria is one of the historic markets of Palermo which‚ once‚ hosted mainly artists and intellectuals. Here we can find mostly high quality fresh food: fish‚ vegetables‚ meat and fragrant spices. Also visit the most famous market of Italy Ballarò and the closely lied mercato del Capo. The charm of these markets lies in the bright colors of the goods and in the salesman’s acts and shouts that accompany the sale of goods; a photogenic scenery from every angle you look at it.
But the is so much more! Don’t miss out on visiting the Church of Casa Professa and the Museum of Stanze al Genio‚ admiring this late eighteenth-century palace and original frescoes. You also have to see an Opera dei Pupi‚ a puppet show by professional traditional puppeteer artists at the Puppet Theatre and visit its museum: the Museo Internazionale delle Marionette.
Every angle of Palermo is worth a visit as tourist; The city of Palermo is full of historic buildings to see‚ from baroque style like the Palazzo Comiti and Palazzo Sant’Elia to Deco soul that can be recognized in the architecture of the early twentieth century as in Palazzo delle Ferrovie and finally the Belle epoque style of Palazzo Jung and its tropical garden.
Must-eats of Palermo during you Sicilian holiday!
Surely don’t miss out on Palermo’s great food and wines! Palermo ranks 5th among the best producers of street food in the world. From the arancini to the panino ca meusa; as a tourist you should try it all! And Palermo doesn’t just offer street food; Sicilian cooking is among the most famous cuisine’s worldwide!
