Place to visit when in Palermo
Place to visit when in Palermo
Palermo Attractions: Map
Main Monuments in Palermo
Fontana Pretoria | Palatine Chapel & Norman Palace
Massimo Theatre | Catacombs of the Capuchins
Cathedral | Villa Malfitano | Four Corners | Zisa Castle
San Giuseppe dei Teatini Church | Chinese Palace
Martorana Church & San Cataldo Church
Museum and Art Gallery in Palermo
Regional Archaeological Museum | Puppet Museum
Sicilian Regional Gallery (Palazzo Abatellis)
Open Air Markets in Palermo
Capo Market | Ballarò Market | Vucciria Market
Palermo attractions nearby
Cefalù | Erice | Segesta | Monreale | Mondello
Restaurants in Palermo
Cucina Papoff | Il Ghiottone Raffinato
Nightlife in Palermo
Regional Archaeological Museum
Museum in Palermo
ENG: Regional Archaeological Museum
ITA: Museo Archeologico Regionale
Via Bara all'Olivella, Palermo,
Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 611 6805
Some
of European's greatest archaeological treasures are tucked away in Palermo's
somewhat musty museum, which is well worth visiting even though it is rather
shabby. The collection is
housed in several old convent buildings, dating back to the 13th century, and
includes artefacts from the Phoenician, Punic, Greek, Roman and Saracen periods
found on the island. Highlights include two Phoenician sarcophagi dating from 5
BC, and the Pietra di Palermo, a black slab discovered in Egypt containing
hieroglyphics that is known as the Rosetta Stone's of Sicily. One room is
devoted to the marvellous finds unearthed at the temples of Selinunte. There is
also an interesting section devoted to underwater archaeology.
Palermo museum open:
Mon/Thu/Sat/Sun: 09:00 to 13:30
Tue/Wed/Fri: 09:00 to 13:30 and
15:00 to 18:30
Palermo museum admission: charge
Puppet Museum
Museum in Palermo
ENG: Puppet Museum
ITA: Museo delle Marionette
Via a Butera, Palermo, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 328 060
Founded
in the 1970s, the rich collection of objects at the Museo delle Marionette
relate to puppet theatre in Sicily and further afield, in Europe and the Far
East. On display are marionettes, glove puppets, shadow puppets and scenic
backdrops.
One of Palermo's most unique
attractions is the engaging Museo delle Marionette, a museum dedicated to the
art of puppetry, which is an age-old traditional Sicilian entertainment. Free
shows are often put on in summer, but the museum collection itself, the greatest
of its kind in the world, is entertainment enough. Most of the antique puppets
on display evoke Norman Sicily, representing chivalrous heroes and Saracen
pirates, knights, ladies and troubadours.
Palermo museum open:
Mon-Fri: 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00;
Sat: 09:00 to 13:00
Palermo museum admission: charge, discount available for children
Regional Gallery Palazzo Abatellis
Art Gallery in Palermo
ENG: Regional Gallery Palazzo Abatellis
ITA: Galleria Regionale Palazzo Abatellis
Via Alloro 4, Palermo, IT-90133,
Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 623 0011
Sicily's
Regional Gallery has its origins in the early 19th century, with a royal legacy
of 53 works to the Royal University of Studies of Palermo. Today, the museum's
art collection comprises works of art and sculpture, which date from the
medieval period right through to the 18th century. The Galleria Regionale is
housed within the Palazzo Abatellis, a Gothic-style castle that was designed in
the 15th century and heavily restored following the Second World War.
Palermo art gallery open:
Mon/Fri/Sat/Sun: 09:00 to 13:00
Tue-Thu: 09:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to
17:00
Palermo art gallery admission: charge
Art Gallery in Palermo
ENG: Modern Art Gallery - Ex Sant'Anna Cloister
ITA: Galleria d'Arte Moderna - Ex Convento di Sant'Anna
Via Sant'Anna 21, Palermo, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 091 843 1605
Palermo's
modern art gallery is based in a prestigious new building. The gallery itself
comprises some influential
masterpieces, including a collection of 20th-century art and sculpture by both
Sicilian and non-Sicilian artists. The Galleria d'Arte Moderna also hosts
temporary exhibits and offers visitors a chance to browse in its library and
bookshop.
Palermo art gallery open:
Tue/Sun:09:30 to 18:30
Palermo art gallery admission: charge
Palermo attractions nearby
Cefalù - Palermo province, Italy,
IT
Some 75 km / 47 miles east of
Palermo, the enchanting seaside
town
of Cefalù nestles at the foot of a steep mountain. Visitors can enjoy wandering
through this medieval town's many winding narrow streets, stopping occasionally
to enjoy refreshments in one of the many
cafes and restaurants. Above the
town are a large fortress and the ancient Temple of Diana, which is said to
contain the oldest building in the whole of Sicily.
Cefalù attraction open: daily - 24 hours
Cefalù attraction admission: free
Erice
Palermo attractions nearby
Erice - Trapani province, Italy, IT
The
hilltop town of Erice is located on the northern coast of western Sicily and,
despite development elsewhere, has managed to retain its medieval character. As
well as its ancient walls, it boasts Pepoli Castle and Venus Castle, two
historic monuments, which are always popular with visitors. Best of all,
though, are the views that be
enjoyed from the castles' towers.
Erice attraction open: daily - 24 hours
Erice attraction admission: free
Mondello
Palermo attractions nearby
Mondello - Palermo, Italy, IT
Situated
just a short distance from Palermo, Mondello has long been a popular
Riviera-style resort for the city's rich and famous.
As well as grand 19th-century mansions and beautiful boulevards, Mondello boasts
a sandy beach, plenty of good seafood restaurants and lively evening
entertainment.
Palermo attraction open: daily - 24 hours
Palermo attraction admission: free
Monreale
Palermo attractions nearby
Monreale - Palermo, Italy, IT
About
8 km / 5 miles south of Palermo is
the small town of Monreale and a
popular destination for many visitors to Sicily. Monreale's cathedral is famous
the world over, in particular because of its splendid interior, including some
beautiful mosaics. Also worth a visit is Monreale's Belvedere, which gives
splendid views over nearby Palermo. Monreale's close proximity to the city
centre makes its many attractions easily accessible by public transport.
Monreale attraction open: daily - except during Saint Mass
Monreale Dome attraction admission: tips
Segesta
Palermo attractions nearby
Segesta Temple & the Theatre - Trapani province, Italy, IT
Segesta
-- it looks as if it were built yesterday. Segesta's ancient
Greek temple
makes a valid claim to being the best preserved in the world, and its
amphitheatre boasts a hilltop position on Mount Barbaro second to none. The
magnificent Doric temple--whose roof was never added and the pillars never
fluted-- is impressive as one of the highlights of a large archeological park.
The archaeological site reflects the presence of several ancient civilizations,
beginning with the elusive Elymians.
Segesta open:
Mon/Sun:08:30 to 1 hour before
sunset
Segesta Temple and Theatre attraction admission: charge
Open Air Markets in Palermo
Capo Market-Mercato del Capo,
a large street market that
captures some of the spirit of the city's Saracen past. This market
sprawls
around the area of Chiesa di Sant'Agostino. Clothing stalls flank the streets of
Via S. Agostino and Via Bandiera; the items here tend to be cheap and poorly
made. More interesting is the
food section off Via Volturno, which spreads
along Via Beati Paoli and Via Porta Carini. The most colorful part of this
market converges around Piazza Beati Paoli. The stalls wind toward the old gate,
Porta Carini, which used to be a part of the city wall surrounding Palermo.
Feasting at the Markets: We like to visit the markets not only to look at
the fabulous produce, but also to enjoy some of the tastiest snacks in Sicily.
It's a great way to have lunch as you graze from stall to stall. Some visitors
stroll along while munching chopped boiled octopus (purpu in Sicilian) and
delectable, freshly cooked artichokes. Naturally, there's plenty of fresh bread
and luscious vine-ripened fruit as well.
You can also purchase absolutely delicious Panelle (chickpea fritters) or
Calzoni (deep-fried meat- or cheese-filled pockets of dough). If you have
an adventurous palate, dig in to a roll filled with beef spleen or tripe, called
Pani cu' la meuza. These pani are often topped with fresh ricotta or a
velvety cheese known as caciocavallo. Hot sauce is sprinkled on at the last
moment.
Palermo Capo Market is
open:
Mon/Sat:08:30 to 18:00; Sun: 08:30
to 13:00
Palermo Capo Market attraction admission: free
Open Air Markets in Palermo
Vucciria Market, the best,
most famous market in Palermo is La
Vucciria.
In Sicilian dialect, vucciria means "hubbub" or "voices," and that's what you'll
hear here. The market spills onto the narrow side streets of Piazza San
Domenico, off Via Roma between Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the San Domenico
church. This is one of Europe's great Casbahlike markets, with mountains of food
ranging from fresh swordfish steaks to all sorts of meat and recently harvested
produce, reflecting the bounty of the Sicilian countryside. The array of such
items as wild fennel, long-stemmed artichokes, blood oranges, and giant octopus
will astound you. Try to go before 10am, when it's at its most frenetic and
colorful. The markets described below keep roughly the same hours.
Feasting at the Markets: We
like to visit the markets not only to look at the fabulous produce, but also to
enjoy some of the tastiest snacks in Sicily. It's a great way to have lunch as
you graze from stall to stall. Some visitors stroll along while munching chopped
boiled octopus (purpu in Sicilian) and delectable, freshly cooked artichokes.
Naturally, there's plenty of fresh bread and luscious vine-ripened fruit as well.
You can also purchase absolutely delicious Panelle (chickpea fritters) or
Calzoni (deep-fried meat- or cheese-filled pockets of dough). If you have
an adventurous palate, dig in to a roll filled with beef spleen or tripe, called
Pani cu' la meuza. These pani are often topped with fresh ricotta or a
velvety cheese known as caciocavallo. Hot sauce is sprinkled on at the last
moment.
Palermo Vucciria Market is
open:
Mon/Sat:08:30 to 14:00;
Palermo Vucciria Market attraction admission: free
Open Air Markets in Palermo
Ballarò Market, the third
great market of Palermo is Ballarò, in the
Albergheria
district, roughly between Piazza Carmine leading to Piazza Casa Professa and
Piazza S. Chiara. This is mainly a food market, with mountains of fruits and
vegetables along with fishmongers and hawkers of discount clothing. Try to go
before 10am, when it's at its most frenetic and colorful.
Feasting at the Markets: We
like to visit the markets not only to look at the fabulous produce, but also to
enjoy some of the tastiest snacks in Sicily. It's a great way to have lunch as
you graze from stall to stall. Some visitors stroll along while munching chopped
boiled octopus (purpu in Sicilian) and delectable, freshly cooked artichokes.
Naturally, there's plenty of fresh bread and luscious vine-ripened fruit as well.
You can also purchase absolutely delicious Panelle (chickpea fritters) or
Calzoni (deep-fried meat- or cheese-filled pockets of dough). If you have
an adventurous palate, dig in to a roll filled with beef spleen or tripe, called
Pani cu' la meuza. These pani are often topped with fresh ricotta or a
velvety cheese known as caciocavallo. Hot sauce is sprinkled on at the last
moment.
Palermo Ballarò Market is
open:
Mon/Sun:08:30 to 14:00;
Palermo Vucciria Market attraction admission: free
Main Monuments in Palermo
Fontana Pretoria: in the
heart of Palermo's loveliest square,
Piazza
Pretoria, stands this magnificent fountain, the work of the Florentine sculptor
Francesco Camilliani in 1554 and 1555. It overlooks the facades of the two
churches on the square, S. Caterina and S. Giuseppe dei Teatini. This fountain
is hardly subtle: It's adorned with depictions of allegories, animal heads,
nymphs, monsters, ornamental staircases and balustrades, and, of course, gods
and goddesses comprising an encyclopedia of Mount Olympus. One of the statuettes
guarding the ramps is Ceres, the classical patroness of Sicily, depicted with a
horn of plenty. The fountain is floodlit at night, a 24-hour sight.
Shocking, Outrageous, Disgraceful! -- When the Fontana Pretoria was first
unveiled in 1575 at Piazza Pretoria, the outcry was so loud it could practically
be heard across the city. Originally intended for a private Florentine villa and
not a public square, the fountain is adorned with nude figures galore. In time,
Palermitans learned to live with this "outrage," although they forever afterward
referred to it as Fontana della Vergogna, or "Fountain of Shame."
Palermo Fontana Pretoria is
open:
Mon/Sun: h 24
Palermo Fontana Pretoria attraction admission: free
Main Monuments in Palermo
Kalsa
Quarter:
in Arabic, the
name Khalisa means "pure," although that is about the last word we'd use
to describe this
colorful
district. Left over from the Middle Ages, the crumbling Quartiere della Kalsa is
the medieval core of Old Palermo and its most intriguing neighborhood in spite
of all the decay, wartime destruction, and poverty. It is rapidly being restored.
Located in the southwestern section of the old city, La Kalsa was designed and
constructed by Arab rulers as a walled city for the emir and his ministers.
Already in serious decline before World War II, La Kalsa was heavily
bombed in 1943 by Allied bombers seeking to conquer Sicily from Fascist control
(the neighborhood was on the bombers' radar for its strategic location near the
city's port). In the postwar era, La Kalsa sank into deeper misery and squalor.
When the Albanian nun Mother Teresa visited La Kalsa, she lectured the
well-heeled Palermitani, telling them that since Palermo was as poor as a
third-world country, "charity should begin at home." Today, after endless delays,
Mother Teresa's words are finally being heard, and La Kalsa is slowly getting
the restorative attention it deserves. La Kalsa is bounded by the port of La
Cala on one side and Via Garibaldi and Via Paternostro to the east and west, and
by Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Lincoln to the north and south. One of its
main thoroughfares is Via Butero. A good place in the heart of the quarter to
begin your rambling is the fancifully baroque church of Santa Teresa alla
Kalsa (tel. 091-6171658), which opens onto the center square,
Piazza della Kalsa. The church was constructed between 1686 and 1706. Two
orders of Corinthian columns grace its stately facade. If it's open, visit the
luminous interior to see the impressive stuccoes of Giuseppe and Procopio
Serpotta. To reach Piazza della Kalsa, enter near La Cala, the harbor,
through Porta dei Greci, right off the busy thoroughfare, Foro Italico. Arm
yourself with a good, detailed map before venturing into the quarter.
Main Monuments in Palermo
Four Corners-Quattro Canti:
at the intersection of Via Vittorio
Emanuele
and Via Maqueda, the "Four Corners" of Palermo converge at a quartet of baroque
palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule. The actual name of the square
is Piazza Vigliena, although locals refer to it as Quattro Canti. Via Maqueda
dates from the 1580s, when it converged with the ancient Via Càssaro, now called
Vittorio Emanuele. The viceroy Vigliene ordered the construction of the four
palaces at this crossroads, the buildings inspired by Rome's Quattro Fontane.
Each of the corners is decorated with a niche in three tiers. The first
tier of each niche contains a fountain and a statue representing one of the
four seasons. The second tier of each niche displays a statue of one of the
Spanish viceroys. The third tier of each niche is dedicated to a statue
of one of the patron saints of the city: Christina, Ninfa, Olivia, and
Agata.
Palermo Four Corners is
open:
Mon/Sun: h 24
Palermo Four Corners attraction admission: free
Main Monuments in Palermo
Catacombs of the Capuchins: if
you've got a secret yearning to join mummified cadavers, and your tastes lean to
the bizarre, you
should
spend at least an hour at these catacombs under the Capuchins Monastery. Some
350 years ago, it was discovered that the catacombs contained a mysterious
preservative that helped mummify the dead. As a result, Sicilians from nobles to
maids -- at least 8,000 in all -- demanded to be buried here. The oldest corpses
date from the late 16th century. The last corpse to be buried here was that of
2-year-old Rosalia Lombaro, who died in 1920. She still appears so lifelike that
locals have dubbed her "Sleeping Beauty." Giuseppe Tommasi, prince of Lampedusa
and author of one of the best-known works of Sicilian literature, The Leopard,
was buried here in 1957. His body was not embalmed, but buried in the cemetery
next to the catacombs instead. Visitors can wander through the catacombs' dank
corridors among the mummified bodies. Some faces are contorted as if posing for
Edvard Munch's The Scream. Although many corpses are still remarkably
preserved, time and gravity have been cruel to others. Some are downright creepy,
with body parts such as jaws or hands missing.
Palermo Catacombs of the Capuchins
is open:
Mon/Sun: h 09:00 to h 12:30PM
Palermo Catacombs
of the Capuchins
admission: charge
Martorana Church & San Cataldo Church
Main Monuments in Palermo
Martorana Church & San Cataldo
Church:
these two Norman
churches stand side by side. If you have time for only one, make
it
La Martorana, as it is the most celebrated church in Palermo remaining from the
Middle Ages. Visit it if only to see its series of spectacular mosaics.
Named for Eloisa Martorana, who founded a nearby Benedictine convent in 1194,
this church is dedicated not to her, but to Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (St.
Mary of the Admiral). History was made here as well: It was in this church that
Sicily's noblemen convened to offer the crown to Peter of Aragon. Today's
baroque facade regrettably conceals a Norman front. You
enter through a
beautiful combined portico and bell tower with a trio of ancient columns and
double arch openings. The bell tower is original, dating from the 12th century.
Once you go inside, you'll know that your time spent seeking out this church was
worthwhile. The stunning mosaics were ordered in 1143 by George of Antioch, the
admiral of King Roger and a man of Greek descent who loved mosaics, especially
when they conformed, as these did, to the Byzantine iconography of his homeland.
It's believed that the craftsmen who designed these mosaics also did the same
for the Cappella Palatina. The mosaics are laid out on and around the columns
that hold up the principal cupola. They're at their most beautiful in the
morning light when the church opens. Dominating the dome is a rendition of
Christ, surrounded by a bevy of angels with the Madonna and the apostles
pictured off to the sides. Even with the passage of centuries the colors remain
vibrantly golden, with streaks of spring green, ivory, azure blue, and what one
art critic called "grape-red." On a visit to La Martorana, you can obtain
a key from the custodian sitting at a tiny table to your right as you enter the
chapel. This key allows entry into the tiny Chiesa di San Cataldo next
door. Also of Norman origin, it was founded by Maio of Bari, chancellor to
William I. But because he died in 1160, the interior was never completed. The
church is famous for its Saracenic red golf-ball domes. Sicilians liken these
bulbous domes to a eunuch's hat.
Palermo Martorana Church is
open:
Mon-Sat 9:30am-1pm; 3:30-6:30pm; Sun 8:30am-1pm.
Palermo San Cataldo Church is open:
Tue-Fri
9am-5pm; Sat-Sun 9am-1pm
Palermo admission: tips
Main Monuments in Palermo
La Zisa Castle: only the shell of the former Moorish palace remains, and its
claims to resemble the Alhambra in Granada are
so far-fetched as to be ridiculous.
But an aura of Arabian Nights
still
lingers about the place. With a little imagination you can conjure up dancers
who entertained the various sultans centuries ago. Moorish craftsmen started the
palace in 1166 under William I; it was finished in 1175 for his son, William II.
La Zisa was
the major building in a royal park
that also embraced La Cuba. This beautifully landscaped park was called Genoard,
meaning "terrestrial paradise," and was celebrated throughout Europe in the
Middle Ages. The park was fenced in so that wild animals could roam about.
Unfortunately, by the 16th century, the palace's heyday was all but a memory,
and it was used as a depository for objects contaminated by the plague.
The structure you see today is high and compact. Two square towers flank the
short sides of the castle. With its richness long stripped away, the interior is
no longer remarkable, but you can still get some impression of the former
sultan's palace. On the ground floor as you enter is the Fountain Hall, built on
a cross plan. On the second floor is a good collection of Arabic art and
artifacts.
Palermo Zisa Castle is
open:
Mon-Sat 9:30am-1pm; 3:30-6:30pm; Sun 8:30am-1pm.
Palermo Zisa Castle is open:
Mon-Sat
9am-noon and 3-7pm; Sun 9am-1pm
Palermo admission: charge
Main Monuments in Palermo
Villa Malfitano: one of Palermo's great villa palaces, built in the Liberty
style, sits within a spectacular garden. The villa was constructed in 1886 by
Joseph Whitaker -- grandson of the
famous
English gentleman and wine merchant, Ingham, who moved to Sicily in 1806 and
made a fortune producing Marsala wine. Whitaker had trees shipped to Palermo
from all over the world to plant around his villa. These included such rare
species as Dragon's Blood, an enormous banyan tree that happens to be the only
one found in Europe. Local high society flocked here for lavish parties, and
even British royalty visited. In World War II, Gen. George Patton temporarily
stayed here as he planned the invasion of southern Italy. The villa today is
lavishly furnished with antiques and artifacts from all over the world. The Sala
d'Estate (Summer Room) is particularly stunning, with trompe l'oeil frescoes
covering the walls and ceiling.
Palermo Villa Malfitano is
open:
Mon-Sat 9:30am-1pm; 3:30-6:30pm; Sun 8:30am-1pm.
Palermo Villa Malfitano is open:
Mon-Sat
9am-1pm
Palermo admission: charge
Norman Palace & Palatin Chapel:
Main Monuments in Palermo
Norman Palace & Palatin Chapel:
this is Palermo's greatest attraction and Sicily's finest treasure trove. Allow
1 1/2 hours and visit just this site if your time is really limited.
The
history of the palace can be traced to the 9th century and the days of the Arab
emirs and their harems, but probably goes back even further: The Arabs built the
palace on an older Roman and Punic fortress. Over time it was abandoned by the
Arabs, and the conquering Normans restored it into a sumptuous residence. The
Normans came and went, and by the mid-16th century the palace was in serious
decay until discovered anew by Spanish viceroys, who in 1555 began its rescue
and once again turned it into a royal residence. Today it is the seat of
Sicily's semiautonomous regional government.
If you enter from Piazza Indipendenza, you'll be directed to the splendid
Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), representing the
apex of the Arabo-Norman collective
genius and built by Roger II from 1130 to 1140, when it was adorned with
extraordinary Byzantine mosaics. You'd have to travel to Istanbul or Ravenna to
encounter mosaics as awe-inspiring as these. The whole cycle constitutes the
largest array of Islamic paintings to survive to the
present
day. Your appreciation of them, however, may be dimmed by the guardians trying
to move people on their way, especially on days when too many tour-bus hordes
arrive at the same time. The chapel features a nave and two aisles divided by
oval arches. The central area is surmounted by a hemispheric dome set on corner
niches over a mosaic floor with walls of marble wainscoting. At the entrance to
the nave is a mammoth royal throne encrusted in mosaics. Note the towering
Paschal candelabrum carved with figures, wild animals, and acanthus leaves, a
masterpiece that has come down from the 12th century. Covering the central nave
is a honeycomb stalactite wooden muqarnas ceiling, a true masterpiece and the
creation of Arab artisans brought from North Africa. They depict scenes from
daily life, including animal hunts and dances. Our favorite? The depiction of a
"picnic" in a harem. The mosaics were installed to teach the story of the Bible
to an illiterate people. We're especially fond of Adam and Eve, each with the "forbidden
fruit" in their mouths and greedily reaching for a second luscious piece. Ah,
the symbolism. There is no one set of mosaics to seek out: It is the sum total
that adds to a miraculous artistic statement. Biblical scenes decorate the walls,
with the image of Christ Pantocrator, surrounded by angels, on the cupola. The
colors of the mosaics are vivid, the style realistic, the effect sometimes
achieved by gold-backed tesserae and silver mosaic tiles. This mixed inlay makes
the surfaces gleam in the soft light.
The mosaics in the nave are evocative of those at Monreale's Duomo. If you don't
have time to visit Monreale, you'll have seen the essence of this brilliant art
here. Almond-eyed biblical characters from the Byzantine world create a panorama
of epic pageantry, illustrating such Gospel scenes as the Nativity. The effect
is enhanced by inlaid marble as well as by pillars made of granite shipped from
the East. Expect tight security as you wander around the Royal Apartments above,
as this is still a seat of government. (On some days, visitors may not gain
entrance at all.) You'll first enter Salone d'Ercole, from 1560, the chamber of
the Sicilian parliament. The salon is named for the mammoth frescoes, created by
Giuseppe Velasquez in the 19th century, depicting the Twelve Labours of
Hercules. Only six panels are visible (the others are concealed behind the
gallery). The most dramatic scene is the slaying of the multiheaded Hydra of
Lerna. You definitely won't want to adopt the three-headed dog, Cerberus, as
your pet. The most intriguing room of the apartments is the Sala di Ruggero II,
where King Roger himself slumbered. It's decorated with 12th-century mosaics.
Look for depictions of the peacock; it was said, symbolically, that the flesh of
the peacock would never rot. A charmer is the Hall of Mirrors, sometimes called
the "Yellow Hall" because of all its stunning candelabra. One of the most
splendid courts of Europe once held forth in other rooms of the Royal Apartments.
Here the Western world met the mysteries of the East, as Latin scholars
conversed and exchanged ideas with Arab astronomers. Regrettably, little is left
of those golden days, when this was the most magnificent of European medieval
courts.
Palermo Norman Palace & Palatine
Chapel is
open:
Mon-Sat
9:30am-1pm; 3:30-6:30pm; Sun 8:30am-1pm.
Palermo admission: charge
Cathedral
Main Monuments in
Palermo
Cathedral: the Cathedral of
Palermo is an architectural complex in Palermo (Sicily, Italy). It is
characterized by the presence of different styles, due to a long history of
additions, alterations and restorations, the last of which occurred in the 18th
century. The cathedral is located at Corso Vittorio Emanuele, corner of Via
Matteo Bonello, Palermo.
The church was erected in 1185 by Walter Ophamil (or Walter of the Mill), the
Anglo-Norman archbishop of Palermo and King
William
II's minister, on the area of an earlier Byzantine basilica. By all accounts
this earlier church was founded by St. Gregory and was later turned into a
mosque by the Saracens after their conquest of the city in the 9th century.
Ophamil is buried in a sarcophagus in the church's crypt. The medieval edifice
had a basilica plan with three apses, of which only some minor architectural
elements survive today.
The upper orders of the corner towers were built between the 14th and the 15th
centuries, while in the early Renaissance period the southern porch was added.
The present neoclassical appearance dates from the work carried out over the two
decades 1781 to 1801, and supervised by Ferdinando Fuga. During this period the
great retable by Gagini, decorated with statues, friezes and reliefs, was
destroyed and the sculptures moved to different parts of the basilica. Also by
Fuga are the great dome emerging from the main body of the building, and the
smaller domes covering the aisles' ceilings.
Palermo Cathedral is
open:
Mon-Sat
9:30am-1pm; 3:30-6:30pm; Sun 8:30am-1pm.
Palermo admission: tips
Main Monuments in Palermo
Saint Giuseppe dei Teatini Church:
near
Quattro Canti , this lavishly decorated church was built by the Theatine
congregation. The interior has a dancing baroque spirit, although the facade,
not completed until 1844, is along more severe neoclassical lines.
The
cupola of the church is adorned with majolica tiles. If you go inside, you'll
find a two-aisle nave. Flanking it are towering columns resting under a frescoed
ceiling, holding up walls covered with a marble polychrome decoration. The main
altar is constructed of semiprecious gems, and the chapels are lavishly frescoed
with stucco decoration. The church was designed by Giacomo Besio of Genoa
(1612-45).
Palermo St. Giuseppe dei Teatini
Church is
open:
Mon-Sat
8:45-11:15am and 5-7pm, Sun 8:30am-1pm
Palermo admission: tips
Main Monuments in Palermo
Massimo Theatre:
the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house and opera company located
on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel
II. It is the biggest in Italy and one of the largest of Europe (the third after
the Opéra National de Paris and Staatsoper a Vienna), renowned for its perfect
acoustics.
The
Teatro Massimo is the largest theatre in Italy (and the third largest opera
house in Europe). Basile was inspired by ancient and classical Sicilian
architecture and, thus, the exterior was designed in the high neoclassical style
incorporating elements of the Greek temples at Selinunte and Agrigento. Realized
in the late-Renaissance style, the auditorium was planned for 3,000 people, but,
in its current format, it seats 1,350, with 7 tiers of boxes rising up around an
inclined stage, and shaped in the typical horseshoe style.
In 1974 the house was closed to complete renovations required by updated safety
regulations, but cost over-runs, corruption, and political in-fighting all added
to the delay and it remained closed for twenty-three years, finally re-opening
on 12 May 1997, four days before its centenary. The opera season started again
in 1999, although Verdi's Aida was performed in 1998 while work in progress
continued. For more information and for tickets to take part at the performances
(battet and opera) check availability on
www.teatromassimo.it.
Ai Candelai
Nightlife in Palermo
Ai Candelai: Palermo's most popular dance clubs lie in the city's commercial center, although one good one is in north Palermo. The city's main dance club is Candelai, Via Candelai 65 (tel. 091-327151), which charges a 4.50€ cover. Mainstream rock blasts throughout the night in this crowded complex of gyrating 20-year-olds. The club is usually open only Friday through Sunday from 8pm, with no set closing time.
Restaurants in
Palermo
SDG Sicily Driver Guide
suggest: Cucina Papoff, a lovely restaurant located in the heart
of Palermo city. The building that houses the restaurant was built as a hotel in
the eighteenth century, and we've been serving fine Sicilian food for more than
twenty years. You can find this restaurant in the city, at Via Isidoro La Lumia
32, near Via Libertà and Politeama Piazza (Piazza Ruggero Settimo), just a few
steps away from the newly-restored Massimo Theatre opera house. If you need to
contact them by phone the number is +39 091586460.
Restaurants in
Palermo
SDG Sicily Driver Guide suggest: Ghiottone Raffinato, a lovely restaurant located in the heart of Palermo city. Great atmosfere, lovely staff always friendly. You can find this restaurant in the city, at Via Salvatore Vigo 3, just a few steps away from the Via Principe di Belmonte (the "city sofa"). If you need to contact them by phone the number is +39 2514744.
Restaurants in
Palermo
SDG Sicily Driver Guide
suggest: Spinnato Bar, one of the best Palermo Bar since 1860. If
you wish to taste typical Sicilian Ice-Cream or Cannoli or Cassata or Great
Chocolate or more in a friendly and lovely atmoshere you have to walk in one of
the best meeting place of Palermo: Via Principe di Belmonte. You can find this
famous Bar easier in the middle of this street. Via Principe di Belmonte is also
easier to find if you are in the city because is one corner between the Massimo
Theatre (opera building) and the Politeama square. Is also a really cheaper Bar
and you can have also some pasta or sandwich and more.