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Blog, Travel

Palermo, what to see in the city

posted by Diego Bonomo
Apr 27, 2018 992 0 0
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It’s not easy to choose what to see in Palermo. In all its contraddictions, the regional capital of Sicily offers a unique blend of people, traditions and cultures. So, you can visit the Teatro Massimo in city centre or you can sunbathe at the beach of Mondello, but for sure you won’t get bored.

What to see in Palermo

There are a lot of places to see and to live in Palermo, but for sure you cannot miss the following 10 in random order.

1 .  Palazzo dei Normanni / Cappella Palatina

The Palazzo dei Normanni, a Unesco World Heritage site, was the residence of the Kings during the Norman domination of Sicily. Today it is the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. On the first floor of the building, there is the marvellous Cappella Palatina, the royal chapel of the Norman Kings of Sicily. It is famous for its mosaics.

La più bella chiesa del mondo, il più sorprendente gioiello religioso sognato dal pensiero umano. Guy De Maupassant #cappellapalatina #palazzodeinormanni #Palermo #sicily #church

A post shared by Francesco Anselmo (@anselmoeditore) on Feb 24, 2018 at 3:05am PST

Website: Fondazione Federico II

2.  Teatro Massimo

Located in Piazza Verdi, in the heart of the city, the Teatro Massimo is the biggest theatre in Italy and the third in Europe. It was designed by the architect Giovanni Battista Filippo Basile, but, after his death, construction was overseen by his son, Ernesto. It was inaugurated on 16th of May 1897.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgVmJI8Ax0w/?taken-by=teatromassimo

Website: Teatro Massimo

3.  Catacombe dei Cappuccini

If you are not a little squeamish, I suggest you to visit the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, the burial catacombs. They are below the Capuchin monastery. In the 16th century the monks started excavating crypts to outgrow the original cemetery. The Catacombe contain about 8,000 corpses and 1,252 mummies. Today they are open to the public, but they are a bit macabre.

Palermo, day 3. #catacombedeicappuccini #museointernazionaledellemarionette #streetart #palermo

A post shared by Niina Holopainen (@niina_kristiinah) on Apr 2, 2018 at 1:00am PDT

Website: Catacombe Palermo

4.  Santuario di Santa Rosalia

Located on the top of Monte Pellegrino, the Santuario di Santa Rosalia is carved into the rocks. It’s dedicated to the patron saint of Palermo. Rosalia, from a noble norman family, retired to live as a hermit in the cave, where she died approximately between 1166 and 1170. In 1624, a plague beset Palermo. The 15th of July, the Saint appeared to a woman, Girolama La Gattusa, to whom she told where to find her remains. The following year, she appeared to a hunter who was going to commit suicide. She stopped him and told him to bring her bones to Palermo and have them carried in procession through the city. So, after three day of processions, the plague ceased and she was venerated as the saint patron of the city. The sanctuary was built in the cave where her bones were discovered.

#santuariodisantarosalia #palermo #sicilia #italy

A post shared by Stella De Rosa (@stella_derosa) on Dec 18, 2017 at 8:46am PST

Website: Santuario Santa Rosalia

5.  La cattedrale

Palermo Cathedral, Unesco World Heritage site, is dedicated to the Assumption of th Virgin Mary. It has different styles because of additions and restorations over the time. Indeed, it was erected in 1185 but completed only in the 18th century. It contains the remains of two of Sicily’s greatest rulers: Roger II and Frederick II. It’s possibile to admire the fantastic view from the roofs.

View of the cathedral of Palermo by night.

A post shared by Diego Bonomo (@diego_bonomo_photography) on Aug 16, 2017 at 5:30am PDT

Website: Cattedrale Palermo

6.  Mondello

Mondello is the borough of Palermo located between Mount Gallo and Mount Pellegrino. It is famous for its beautiful beach. Originally, it was a small fishing village and it was home to a tonnara, no longer active. Therefore, at the beginning of the 20th century, Mondello became the seat of the aristocracy of Palermo. Today, besides the beach, it is renowed as one of the gems of Art Nouveau in Europe.

Sei la mia città Fuori dal centro Sei la mia città È un complimento Sei la mia città Ti sento dentro E quando tornerò qualcosa cambierà. #lamiacittà #mondello #montepellegrino #spettacolo #chepanorama #seaside #sicily #skyline #whataview #meraviglia #homesweethome #volgosicilia #running #walking #nofilter #25aprile #volgopalermo #like4like #like4like #likeforfollow #followme

A post shared by @ pallik on Apr 25, 2018 at 5:19am PDT

7.  I mercati

You cannot say to have seen Palermo if you haven’t taken a walk through its street markets. Vuccirìa, Capo, Ballarò an Borgo Vecchio, the four historical street markets.They are a fascinating mix of tastes and smells, people and traditions. There you can find the real essence of the old city. You just have to walk and get lost among the stalls.

Ballaró street market, Palermo

A post shared by Diego Bonomo (@diego_bonomo_photography) on Feb 21, 2018 at 6:40am PST

8.  La Zisa

La Zisa, a Unesco World Heritage site, is a castle in the western part of Palermo. It was the summer residence of the norman king and it’s clearly inspired by moorish architecture. Inside, you can visit the great hall with a mosaic decoration. Finally, in the 1970s, the palace was acquired by the Region of Sicilia and restored. Today it is open to tourists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh3TWZzH4CT/?tagged=zisa

9.  Quattro Canti / Piazza Pretoria

In the heart of the historical centre of Palermo, you can see the Quattro Canti, a baroque square, at the crossing of two important streets, Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The square is octogonal and on the four sides there are four baroque buildings with fountains and statues. Some steps away, you can see Piazza Pretoria, also known as square of Shame, because at the center of the square there is the Fontana Pretoria, the fountain with sixteen nude statues of nymphs, humans, mermaids and satyrs, considered the representation of currupt minicipalities.

#piazza #piazzavigliena #quattrocanti #palermophoto #palermocapitalecultura #palermocittà #centrostorico #architecture #architetturabarocca #kings_sicilia #palermobarocca #siciliamondopa #mondopalermo #siciliando #siciliamondodettagli #photography #flipitaly #shotz_of_sicilia #landscapephotography #landscape #lovesicily #myphoto #fotografando #yallerssicilia #ig_great_pics #ig_photooftheday #ig_visitsicily #palermocity

A post shared by elart (@eleo_bruno) on Apr 25, 2018 at 7:24am PDT

10. Santa Maria dello Spasimo

Santa Maria dello Spasimo is an uncompleted Catholic church in the borough of the Kalsa. Altough, the construction began in 1509, it was never completed because of the Turkish threat in 1535 when resources for the church were used to build fortification. Its most important feature is the lack of the roof. Today “lo Spasimo” hosts cultural and musical events.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhl40RRHx0t/?tagged=spasimo

So, if you liked this article and want to visit Palermo, contact me. I’ll be happy to help you.

ballaròborgo vecchiocaphucincapocappella palatinacatacombecatacombscathedralchurchculturefountaingirolama la gattusaitalymondellomosaicnormanpalazzo dei normannipalermophotopiazza pretoriaquattro cantisanctuarysanta rosaliasicilyspasimostreet marketteatro massimotheatretourismtraditionstravelvisitvuccirìawhat to seewhat to visitzisa
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Travel Blogger

DIEGO BONOMO

Freelance journalist from February 2012, he collaborates with various online newspapers and From 2014, he began to specialize in photography. Diego is also a travel and photography blogger.

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