holidays in palermo

The capital of Sicily is located along the bay at the foot of Monte Pellegrino with a population of 700,000. As with the other key cities in Sicily, Palermo’s history mirrors the civilisations that dominated the island throughout the last three thousand years. From Phoenicians, Romans, Saracens and Normans, all have left their imprint on the City’s archaeological history.

Holiday Accommodation in Palermo

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The Kalsa quarter was the centre of Palermo during the Arab occupation, with the Piazza Marina at its heart. Located between via Maqueda and the sea, the area is typified by narrow streets, although it suffered from extensive bombing during World War II. The piazza is irregular in shape and surrounded by numerous ancient buildings or palazzos, with the Giardino Garibaldi at its centre. The Palazzo Abatellis is located a few streets to the south of Piazza Marina and now houses the Galleria Regionale di Sicilia. The gallery exhibits a wonderful collection of Sicilian paintings and sculptures, including work by Antonello da Messina (1430-79) and Riccardo Quartararo 1484-1501), who are generally considered to be two of the best Renaissance artists in Sicily. Immediately adjacent to the gallery is La Gancia, a 15th century church dedicated to Santa Maria degli Angeli. The church has 16 side chapels, each of which contain precious works of art dating from the 16th century, including several by Pietro Novelli. Also close by to the Piazza Marina are the Museo Internazionale delle Marionette, which features one of the most important collections of puppets and marionettes in the world; and the Palazzo Mirto, an 18th century mansion which its original furnishings and décor preserved.

The Piazza Pretoria is where the civic heart of the City can be found, with the Palazzo delle Aquile, the church of Santa Caterina and San Giuseppe dei Teatini. The centre of the piazza is dominated by the Fontana Pretoria, which was built in 1555 and features concentric basins with numerous statues. The Palazzo delle Aquile is the city hall, built in 1463, but subsequently enlarged. The assembly room features a 16th century painted ceiling and numerous inscriptions, which detail the important events that have taken, place in the room.

The main street in Palermo is the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which historically connected the port and the royal castle. There are numerous piazza’s and palaces that are positioned along the street, including the Palazzo Riso-Belmonte, which was one of the grandest buildings in 18th century Palermo, and has now been restored to its former glory. At the western end of the Corso is the City’s cathedral, which occupies the site of a former basilica and mosque. The cathedral was founded in 1185, but building work continued for many centuries, which is now reflected in the different architectural styles. The Piazza Della Vittoria and Piazza del Parlamento are located a few minutes walk from the Cathedral and are two of the City’s major squares. The area has evidence of both Arab and Norman influence, perhaps best seen at the Cappella Palatina. The chapel was founded in 1132 and has remarkable Norman mosaics on display along with a carved wooden ceiling of Arab origin. Alongside the chapel is the Palazzo dei Normanni, which was originally built by the Arabs in the 11th century, but then occupied by Roger II after his conquest of the island.

In addition to the architectural history, Palermo has numerous other attractions to offer. The Museo Archeologico Regionale details the history of western Sicily from prehistoric times through to the Roman era. In addition to Phoenician sarcophagi, the museum also displays numerous exhibits from Selinunte, including the metopes taken from the temple. The street markets are particularly famous, with the largest being Vucciria, selling fresh produce and fish. Other markets include Ballaro, selling produce and some antiques, Capo, selling clothes and fresh produce and Papireto, which sell antiques and bric-a-brac. There are several festivals held during the year, including the Festino di Santa Rosalia between 10th – 15th July and a music festival held during November.

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