Italy · City Guide
Palermo
Palermo is Sicily's magnificent and chaotic capital, a city of extraordinary historical complexity where Norman, Arab, Byzantine, baroque and Spanish layers have created one of the most culturally rich urban environments in the Mediterranean. From the Palatine Chapel and the Cathedral to the extraordinary street food culture of the Vucciria and Ballarò markets, Palermo offers an Italian city experience of raw, vivid and unforgettable intensity.
Elect's take
"Palermo is the most complex and layered city in Italy. The combination of Arab-Norman architecture, extraordinary street food, vibrant markets and the complicated beauty of a city that has survived everything creates something genuinely unlike anywhere else I have visited."
The Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace is one of the most extraordinary rooms in Europe, a masterpiece of Arab-Norman art combining Byzantine mosaics, Arab muqarnas vaulting and Norman stonework in a synthesis of extraordinary beauty. The Cathedral of Palermo is a remarkable building of accumulated architectural complexity added to over centuries. The Ballarò and Vucciria markets are among the most vibrant and authentic in Italy, filled with extraordinary Sicilian produce and street food. The Capuchin Catacombs beneath the city provide one of the most extraordinary and macabre experiences in Italy. Monreale Cathedral, 8 kilometres above the city, has the finest Norman mosaics in the world.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Palatine Chapel
One of the most extraordinary rooms in Europe, a masterpiece of Arab-Norman art.
Ballarò & Vucciria
Among the most vibrant and authentic markets in Italy, full of Sicilian produce and street food.
Palermo Street Food
Outstanding arancini, panelle, sfincione and the full range of Sicilian street food culture.
Arab-Norman Heritage
A UNESCO World Heritage legacy of extraordinary architectural synthesis.
Monreale Cathedral
The finest Norman mosaics in the world in a cathedral 8 kilometres above the city.
Capuchin Catacombs
One of the most extraordinary and macabre cultural experiences in Italy.
