Sultry Sicily, washed by the gentle waters of the Mediterranean Sea, is an ancient land rich in history and cultural traditions of great civilizations. It was visited by Romans, Moors, Normans and powerful orders of knights. The real pearl of the island is the capital of Palermo - a city of contrasts, ancient architecture, blooming gardens and strong family traditions.
Palermo has such an abundance of historical monuments of the Early Middle Ages that you involuntarily wonder how they could have stood for such a long time? Moorish palaces, Christian temples converted from mosques, villas immersed in greenery decorate city streets and give Palermo a unique look. The capital of Sicily is also the lair of elegant Italian mafiosi, which in our time have turned into another tourist highlight.
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What to see and where to go in Palermo?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Norman Palace
The Norman palace has housed the rulers of Sicily since the 7th century. First, the Arab caliphs, and after the conquest of the island - the Norman kings. In the 12th century, the Palatine Chapel was built and decorated with magnificent Byzantine mosaics. The 16th century saw the second wave of popularity of the palace, as the Spanish Viceroy chose it as his residence. In this regard, a large-scale reconstruction of the building was carried out. Since the middle of the 20th century, the regional parliament of the island of Sicily has been sitting here.
Palace Cuba
Country residence of the kings of Sicily, built in the distant XII century. The architecture of the building has absorbed a lot of the Arabian style of construction, as the customer really liked the oriental style. The palace really resembles a cube, decorated with traditional Moorish arches and Arabic script. Currently, the complex houses a museum of Arab culture.
Tsiza Palace
Another striking representative of the Arab-Norman architectural style. The palace was built in the 12th century for King William I. The building was used as a hunting villa. As a result of numerous reconstructions, the building practically lost its unique appearance, but acquired the features of medieval European architecture. The palace is surrounded by a magnificent lush park. Nowadays, on the territory of the Tsiza Palace, there is a museum dedicated to Islamic art.
Villa Palagonia
The villa is located about 15 km. from Palermo. It was erected at the very beginning of the 18th century in the Baroque architectural style, designed by Tommaso Napoli. The customer was one of the first representatives of the Sicilian nobility. At the end of the 19th century, the building was acquired by another noble family. The villa is still privately owned, so access to its territory is limited.
Palatine Chapel
The personal chapel of the Sicilian kings located in the Norman Palace. The chapel appeared in the XII century under the ruler Roger II. The temple is a small compact basilica with unique interiors that have survived to this day. Particularly noteworthy are the marble-granite floor mosaics and ceiling paintings. These elements of interior decoration have come down to us in their original form.
Palermo Cathedral
Medieval temple, which has absorbed elements of various architectural styles - Gothic, Moorish style, classicism. The history of the building began in the 4th century with a small early Christian church. Arab, Spanish and even German masters worked on the construction, decoration and restoration of the cathedral. For many centuries the rulers of Sicily were crowned here. Inside the cathedral, real treasures and works of art are kept.
Churches of Martorana and San Cataldo
Church of San Cataldo is a unique monument of Arab-Norman architecture of the 12th century. Outwardly, it is somewhat reminiscent of a mosque with a high minaret. At the moment, the temple is owned by the brothers of the monastic order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Nearby is the Martorana Temple, also built in the 12th century. The Byzantine mosaics decorating the interior of the Martorana are the oldest on the island of Sicily. Both churches are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Cathedral monreale
Cathedral located in the suburb of Palermo - the city of Monreale. The interior of the temple is decorated with themed mosaics with scenes from the New and Old Testament. The cathedral was erected during the reign of William II the Good at the end of the 12th century. At the same time, a Benedictine monastery was built at the temple. The building continued to be completed and rebuilt until the beginning of the 19th century, but in many respects it retained its original medieval appearance.
Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini
The temple is considered a typical representative of the "Sicilian Baroque" architectural style. Construction began in the 17th century. The project was developed by the Genoese architect D. Bezio, who was a member of the Catholic order of the Teatins. The interior is richly decorated with marble, bas-reliefs, decorative elements, columns, ceilings and enfilades are carved from solid slabs. The church is also decorated with a magnificent marble floor.
Teatro Massimo
One of the largest theaters in Europe and the largest opera house in Italy, where renowned tenor Enrico Caruso and composer Giacomo Puccini performed. "Massimo" translated from Italian means "the greatest, the greatest." The construction of the theater began at the end of the 19th century; the premiere performance was the opera Falstaff by the master G. Verdi. The predominant architectural style is classical with elements of the ancient Greek manner.
Theater Politeama
A pompous neoclassical structure reminiscent of ancient Roman temples. The theater was built in 1891 by the architect D. D. Almeida. The name "Politeama" indicates that there are works of various genres on the stage. In 2000, a reconstruction was carried out, part of the premises was transferred to the Palermo Gallery of Contemporary Art. Since 2001, the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra has performed on the stage of Politeama.
Puppet Museum
Museum of Dolls, founded in 1975. The collection consists of several thousand pieces brought from all over the world. The dolls clearly demonstrate the features of different nations and peoples. Italians have always emphasized theater and acting. The founder of the Puppet Museum A. Pasqualino also established the Morgana Festival dedicated to the art of puppetry.
Palazzo Abatellis
The 15th century palace, commissioned by Captain F. Abatellis and designed by architect M. Karnelivari. The building was built in the Gothic Catalan style. The building was significantly damaged during the Second World War, but was later rebuilt. Today, the palace houses the collection of the Sicilian Regional Art Gallery. Here are collected exhibits of the XII-XVIII centuries.
Archaeological Museum of Antonio Salinas
The museum is located in a 17th century building that was built for a monastery and a church. But in 1866, a law was passed that abolished religious orders, so the building was placed at the disposal of the National Museum. The funds were gradually replenished at the expense of private collections, works of art from monasteries, churches, city universities. One of the most valuable exhibits is a panel from the 3rd century A.D. with the image of Orpheus.
Capuchin catacombs
Underground premises located in the basements of the Capuchin monastery, where more than 8 thousand people are buried: monks, nobles, famous and revered townspeople, artists and other people important to Sicily. This necropolis is rather unusual, as the dead bodies are on display, rather than resting in closed crypts. The temperature of the catacombs prevents decomposition, so the bodies are in a "preserved" state.
Porta Nuova Gate
Building of the 16th century, erected in honor of the victory of Charles V in the Tunisian War. The gate is located at the entrance to the historic part of Palermo. Porta Nuova is a Sicilian "triumphal arch" that adorns the city and at the same time serves as a landmark. Unfortunately, the gate has not survived to this day in its original form, as it was blown up in 1667. Master Gaspar Garcio worked on the restoration of the historical appearance of the building.
Porta Felice Gate
The gate was built in the 17th century. They were used to enter the city from the coast. The building was built in the Baroque and Renaissance style, the upper part is crowned with figures of two eagles and the coat of arms of the Spanish rulers. During the bombing of the Second World War, only ruins remained from Port Felice, but as a result of painstaking and careful reconstruction, the structure was restored.
Pretoria fountain
A huge fountain that occupies almost the entire space of the square of the same name. The sculptural composition was created in the 16th century, gradually over the centuries it has become badly dilapidated and fell into decay. In the period 1998-2003, the fountain was restored. The result is a composition of three large circles-bowls, surrounded by stone mythological characters, animals and monsters.
Palermo Botanical Garden
The favorable climate and suitable conditions have made it possible to create a botanical garden in Palermo with a rich variety of flora. It appeared at the end of the 18th century at the Botanical Department of Queen's University. Initially, medicinal plants were grown in a small area, but very soon there was not enough space and the garden had to expand. Now the park covers an area of about 10 hectares.
Mondello beach
City Beach Palermo, located on the slope of Mount San Pellegrino, surrounded by orchards. The place is popular with tourists due to its clean water, white sand, convenient location and well-thought-out infrastructure. The length of the beach is only two kilometers, so in the high season there is practically no free space, from a large number of people who want to sunbathe under the Sicilian sun.
