Palermo will be the destination of your next vacation. How many days for this holiday? Only twenty-four hours or a few more days? In both cases, you want to know what to see in Palermo. And these are the 10 most beautiful places of the Sicilian capital city.
- The Palatine Chapel. One of the most famous monuments in the city, it is situated in the Palazzo dei Normanni. The mosaics are the reason for which Palatine Chapel is so visited. A real masterpiece of Norman, Arabic and Byzantine architecture.
- Mondello. A wonderful beach near the old town centre of Palermo. Mondello is sandy, very large and there are several services available. Day-time, it’s a good idea if you’re looking for relaxation, or if you’re spending a holiday with children. In the evening, it’s frequented by young people.
- Ballarò. If you really want to immerse yourself in the most “authentic” atmosphere of Palermo, that’s the place. Ballarò is one of the most popular and picturesque historical markets in Palermo: it is a fresco of colours, sounds and scents.
- Addaura. If Mondello is sandy, Addaura beach is rocky. It is suitable for snorkeling and diving. Even Addaura is located very close to the city centre and is easy to reach.
- The cathedral. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Palermo, Unesco World Heritage, is an imposing structure whose construction began in the late Twelfth century. It mixes different architectural styles: Norman, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical.
- The Kalsa. Originally, it was a fortified Fatimid citadel, built in the Tenth century. It is part of the historic centre. The district of Kalsa is worth seeing especially for the “rue”, narrow streets that connected the different districts of Palermo.
- The qanat. One of the many “secret places” in Palermo. The quanat are a complex of tunnels and galleries used to bring water to the surface.
- Monte Pellegrino. It is a promontory between the gulf of Palermo and the bay of Mondello. Two paths lead to the top of the promontory: Rufuliata and Scala vecchia. Monte Pellegrino will give you, especially in the evening, one of the most romantic views that you will ever see.
- Parco della Favorita. It is the largest park in Palermo and is crossed by two major paths, named after Hercules and Diana. Spend at least half a day strolling, relaxing and discovering places like the Palazzina cinese, villa Niscemi and the Nineteenth-century neoclassical fountain.
- The Sanctuary of Saint Rosalia. Built inside a cave almost on top of Monte Pellegrino, where her remains were discovered. The sanctuary can be reached on foot, by car or by public transport.
Now that you know what to see in Palermo and which are the most beautiful places in Sicilian capital city, there’s only one thing left to do: book a ferry to Sicily.
Image source: Di Bengt Nyman – Flickr: DSC_0421, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25129773
