20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN PALERMO

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Palermo is, without a doubt, one of the star cities of Sicily and as you will see shortly ... there are many interesting things to discover here. It is a place where Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards passed, where gastronomy plays a key role in the daily lives of its inhabitants and where any corner has personality. It is a good place to spend a few days to base and explore the surroundings. So if you travel here take note of these 20 things to see and do in Palermo.

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1. The Palermo Cathedral It is one of the visits that you can not miss, and not only because it is very beautiful, but also had a very interesting history: it was born as a Paleo-Christian basilica, it became a mosque and again a church. This cultural mixture was reflected in the architecture, you can differentiate Arabic, Gothic and Baroque elements. Entering is free, but there is a € 7 ticket to visit the treasure, the graves, the crypts and the roof.

2. Colorful, authentic and full of life: that's the way they are markets of Palermo . So if you want to discover the most local side of the city, do not hesitate to approach (at least) one of them. The most famous are: the Vucciria Market, the Balto Mercato, the Mercato Capo Y Borgo Vecchio. Personally, the one we liked the most was the Balló!

3. Have a wine or a beer in the Taverna Azzurra, is a place of those that remain the same for years, where the most alternative atmosphere of Palermo meets. Prices are another attraction: the third of beer is from € 1. It is best to ask and go outside to drink while sitting on some of the benches in the street, or standing. It is located on Via Maccherronai, 15.

Find cheap accommodationin Palermohere

4. Palermo is the European capital of street food and you will soon fall for some local gastronomic delight. Our advice is to have dinner at Piazza Caracciolo (very close to the Azzurra Taverna). Beginning at 5pm, some stalls that prepare typical foods such as pane e panelle, fish fry, octopus and more specialties of the area begin to be assembled. Ask for the position that you most want and sit at the tables that belong to the Pirtusiddu Taverna, the large Moretti beer costs only € 2! In addition, the atmosphere is very cool, it is from neighborhood to neighborhood and it will seem to you to be in a movie.

5. Is there a desire for a beach? Sicily has some of the most beautiful in Europe and near Palermo is the Mondello beach… is beautiful! It is easily reached by bus (806) in half an hour.

Palermo Cathedral

6. The Martorana (Co-cathedral of Santa María del Almirante) is not only interesting from the architectural point of view (it has Byzantine, Norman and Baroque elements) but it was the place where some nuns invented the Martorana fruit (some sweet almond flour and sugar shaped fruit). Also hopefully you can attend an Orthodox Mass.

The entrance costs € 2 and is absolutely worth it (its Byzantine mosaics are amazing): for us it is one of the best things what to see in Palermo!

7. Another essential place to see in Palermo is the Palace of the Normans. It was founded in 1130 and is considered the oldest royal residence in Europe. The entrance is expensive (€ 12), but inside you can see one of the great jewels of the city: the Palatine Chapel, full of golden mosaics that will leave you with your mouth open.

8. Of clear Arab influence, the Zisa (the splendid) is a palace that was built in 1165 and was used as a royal residence. The entrance costs € 6 and you can be disappointed if you have visited monuments such as the Alhambra or the Alcazares of Cordoba or Seville ...

9. Whenever we travel to a new city we pay a lot of attention to its walls, and we are very much fans of street art. In Palermo there are good examples in Via dei Cassari. More info here.

10. The Jesus Church It is one of the most beloved by the palermitanos, of baroque style, its interior is an explosion of marbles, colors and decorative ostentation. Believe us: from the outside it looks like any church, but inside it changes a lot. Admission costs € 2 (when we went there was a wedding and we entered for free).

Interior of the Church of Jesus

Tired? There are 10 other things to see and do in Palermo! Courage 🙂

11. Although there is a curious church, that is Santa Maria dello Spasimo and that is ... it has no roof! Today it is used as a concert hall and shows (literally under the stars). It is somewhat far from the center but if you have time it is worth approaching.

12. The San Lorenzo Oratory It is another place that surprises with the difference between its normal exterior and how beautiful it is inside: it is full of beautiful Rococo stucco. You can also see the reproduction of the "Nativity with San Francisco and San Lorenzo" of Caravaggio (the original was stolen in the 1960s and never recovered). Admission is € 2.

13. Did you know that in Palermo there are catacombs? Yes, the Capuchin Catacombs. It is the cemetery of Convent of the Capuchin Friars, and where you can walk between tombs and remains of bodies. The entrance costs € 3 and is a visit, obviously, quite macabre and not suitable for sensitive or claustrophobic people. More info here.

14. The Massimo Theater Not only is it the largest in the city, but it is the third largest lyric theater in Europe (after the Paris Opera and the Vienna Opera). Check out the schedule in case your visit matches an interesting show.

15. One of the most famous points of Palermo is the crossing between Maqueda Street and the Cassaro (Plaza Vilena), better known as “I quattro canti” (the four facades). In each facade of each corner you can recognize the statues of four kings (Carlo V, Filippo II, III and IV), of the four seasons and of four saints (Cristina, Ninfa, Oliva and Agata).

“I quattro canti” crossing

16. Next to I quattro canti, we will find the Pretoria Source. A curiosity: it is also known as "source of shame", some say it is because at the time the naked statues caused a stir, but many others believe that the nickname was used to attack the corrupt city hall.

17. If you have several days of time, you can do a couple of excursions:

get closer to Monreale, famous for its cathedral that represents one of the best examples of Norman art in Europe and that knew how to merge Byzantine and Arab elements perfectly. Curiosity: inside there are 2,200 kg of gold (in the form of a mosaic), it is a unique spectacle. Admission costs € 4, and watch out for opening hours. More info. There are also tours that lead to Monreale and Cefalù.
Or, if you don't want to rent a car, you can take this tour to get to know Segesta, Erice and the salt flats from the Trapani area: they are very cool!

18. To enjoy some nice views of Palermo, go up to the last floor of the Rinascent (some department stores, similar to the Spanish English Court). There is a beautiful panoramic terrace, with a bar and a restaurant, although you can go for free. It is in Via Roma, 289.

19. Although in truth, surprises are presented walking aimlessly through the city, and getting lost in its streets. Thus, they can be found ancient palaces with decadent courtyards that give you a hint of the luxury with which some once lived. If you find any of these gates open, do not hesitate and take care!

20. Gastronomy in Sicily is a pass, and in Palermo you will be able to enjoy local recipes in many places. Although finding a bad restaurant in Palermo is a difficult task, here are 10 recommendations for places to eat well and cheaply.

20 + 1. Sicilian history is intrinsically connected with the mafia history, and if you want to learn more about one of the most terrible chapters in Italy, don't hesitate to read this article. We hope it helps you to understand more what this criminal society meant for my country and to remove, at once, the Hollywood (almost cult) halo of one of the most terrible cancers of Italian society.