News from Italy
Palermo, the precious pearl of the south
Step by step Italy with Vita gazette: its treasures, secrets, legends, and fascinating places.
This time, we are exploring one of the country’s jewels, Palermo, which we believe is one of Sicily’s most exciting attractions. Palermo is like a Lasagna that consists of layers. That’s why the perfect capital of Sicily should be enjoyed slowly and calmly, with all its layers. This coastal metropolis, among the largest in Europe, conquers with its colours, scents and flavours that overwhelm the senses and enliven the streets. Decadent and sumptuous, ancient and contemporary, authentic and yet enchanting
Palermo, ruled by Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans throughout history, is the capital of Sicily, located in the south of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean. The Arab-Norman style blends with the Baroque and Liberty in a mix of rare beauty, to be observed with surprise and wonder.
A city with Phoenician origins, then dominated by the Romans, Arabs, Normans and Swabians, it displays evidence of its glorious past wherever you look. The first to occupy the place where Palermo stands were the Phoenicians, who, in the 7th century BC, founded a city called Zyz. The Greeks attempted several times to take possession of that place, but only the Romans succeeded during the First Punic War. With the fall of the Roman Empire, Palermo was subject to barbarian invasions at the hands of the Vandals until, in 535 AD. the Byzantine fleets of Belisarius of the Eastern Roman Empire conquered the city, making it the capital of their kingdom in southern Italy.
The art of decorating Palermo with marble engravings and gold mosaics is the work of the Byzantines. Arabs also used their colours to decorate this beautiful city. Arabs who came to Sicily in 827 AD built mosques and enormous palaces. In 1070, the Normans took over. But they did not send different identities from the city. Norman kings created a modern state in which other religions and ethnic groups coexisted peacefully. Emperor II of the Holy Roman Empire made a climate that pleased Frederick. In medieval Palermo, the Arab-Norman style of architecture prevailed, which is still admired today and which we can include on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with other monuments in nearby Monreale and Cefalù.
Charles II of Anjou in the 13th century. He defeated Frederick’s son. However, soon, the Aragonese captured Palermo at the request of the citizens who revolted against the Angevins. From 1494 to 1759, Palermo was governed by Viceroys, a group of nobles elected by their peers to rule the island on behalf of the monarch, who the Bourbons later abolished. Although the king of Naples was first crowned king of Sicily after the Congress of Vienna, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was born. It lasted until the arrival of Garibaldi and its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy. The years 1800 and 1900. Grand Art Nouveau buildings have a unique charm even today.
Layered and fascinating cultures, the Baroque atmosphere that dominates the churches and squares, historical markets, cafes and the sea… What to see in Palermo? There are many alternatives, but we recommend the priority ones here.
The Quattro Canti or Four Corners
This spot is more than just a crossroads; it’s the beating heart of Palermo, steeped in history and bursting with architectural beauty. The Four Corners is a testament to Sicily’s rich past and vibrant present, from its baroque facades to the stories etched in its stones. If Palermo had a living room where everyone gathers, it would be the Quattro Canti. This place isn’t just the city’s heart; it’s where its soul comes into play. The square was built between 1608-1620. There is a building in every corner of the square. There is a fountain on top of each building, baroque-style statues depicting the four seasons above these fountains, and statues of the four Spanish kings.
Fontana della Vergogna, Piazza Pretoria
A wealthy Florentine family commissions the Florentine sculptor Francesco Camiliani to build a fountain decorated with magnificent statues in their house’s garden. When the family passes away, their sons sell the fountain. The Senate of Palermo, located in the square, purchases the large fountain to decorate the space. The fountain is cut into 644 pieces to be transported. There is a church and a monastery in the square; the statues are naked. That’s why it is said that this place was called “Fountain of Shame”. But there are better ones than this one. Although this name is connected with the fountain, it is not due to the nakedness of the statues but to the twenty thousand scudi (eight thousand onze) that the Senate of Palermo had to pay to purchase them. Considering the historical poverty, epidemics and famine of those years, the people of Palermo can be seen shouting “Shame, Shame” as members of the Senate left the building.
Cattedrale di Palermo
Palermo Cathedral is the third-largest cathedral in Europe. It was built in the 1100s and used as a mosque. The cathedral, where marble and wood are intertwined, is among the most important works of Palermo. A vast building dedicated to the Virgin Mary, built on an earlier Christian basilica, was converted into a mosque by the Saracens and reconverted for Christian worship by the Normans. The remains of the Sicilian royals Federico II and Roger II and the patron saint of Palermo, Santa Rosalia, are also located here.
Palazzo dei Normanni
The apartments of Palazzo dei Normanni, a fortification built by the Arabs in the 9th century and later expanded by the Normans, are decorated with mosaics and frescoes made in different periods. Inside is the Palatine Chapel, with Sicily’s most beautiful Byzantine mosaics. Don’t forget to look at the Islamic origins among the muqarnas, stalactites carved into wood.
Teatro Massimo
Palermo’s temple of music, Teatro Massimo in Palermo, built in 1887 on a site of three churches and as many monasteries, is the subject of an interesting legend: it seems that one of the nuns whose tomb is located there was destroyed. The legend that it is still wandering there is passed down from word to mouth. In the movie The Godfather, The scene where Michael Corleone is assassinated and his daughter is killed is filmed on the steps of the Massimo Theatre.
Politeama Garibaldi Theatre
Located in Piazza Politema, the theatre is named after the soldier Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy’s romantic revolutionary. Garibaldi is an important figure who led the movement to unite Italy. At the entrance to the building, there is a bronze statue of a horse-drawn carriage designed by Mario Rutelli. An important example of neoclassical architecture, it presents a large entrance in the form of a monumental triumphal arch at the apex of which stands the bronze Quadriga by Mario Rutelli, representing the “Triumph of Apollo and Euterpe” flanked by a pair of bronze horses and knights modelled by Benedetto Civiletti representing the “Olympic Games”. In contrast, on both sides of the main entrance to the theatre, behind the two large candelabra, you can see the two plaques bearing the historic epigraphs dictated by Isidoro La Lumia and, above, the two bas-reliefs representing the “Hunger” designed by the painter Pensabene. The semicircular body of the building develops around the external façade with the two orders of Doric and Ionic colonnades, layers of blue and yellow colour, and figures surmounted by a frieze that reproduces the circus games on a red background. The triumphal arch of the facade is refined by a beautiful composition in stucco bas-relief, the work of Rutelli, which represents a multitude of cherub musicians and singers. Inside, a horseshoe-shaped room
The Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
It is located in Palermo, about 430 meters above sea level on Mount Pellegrino, the promontory on which it is said that the Saint first found refuge and then died in 1624, struck by the plague. Once found, Rosalia’s relics were carried in procession through the streets of Palermo. Santa Rosalia reduced the violence of the plague, and the woman, the author of the miracle, was proclaimed the city’s patron saint. The façade of the sanctuary of Santa Rosalia is located against the rock face of Mount Pellegrino and can be reached after climbing a long staircase. Once inside, it is possible to get to the cave, where, according to legend, the Saint retired to live in her last days. In these rooms are several patron saint statues, a series of altars, a fifteenth-century crucifix and several tombstones. One of these is in honour and in memory of the poet Goethe, who came to visit the sanctuary in the eighteenth century and who defined Mount Pellegrino as “the most beautiful promontory in the world”.
Castello Della Zisa
The castle, built based on Arab-Norman architecture, was used as a residence by princes. Inside, there are also works from the Ottoman and Islamic periods.
Porta Carini
This door is one of the oldest gates in the city of Palermo. The gate, whose construction date is unknown, is quite magnificent. An excellent open market welcomes visitors.
Cuba Palermo
Cuba, with its cube-shaped appearance, is another example of Arab architecture in Sicily. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri
Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri, built around 1320 by Manfredi I and belonging to the Chiaramonte family, represented one of the most influential families in Western Sicily. Today, it is the seat of the Rectorate of the University of Palermo.
Santa Maria dello Spasimo
Santa Maria dello Spasimo, an events centre created from an unfinished church in the Kalsa district, is valorised as a location for evocative shows under the stars, given that the building has no ceiling.
Orto Botanico di Palermo
The garden, built on 30 decares of land, also operates as a research and education institution of the Botany Department of the University of Palermo. The garden has a wide variety of trees, plants, and greenhouses. It should be visited for the turtles sunbathing in the pool in the middle of the botanical garden; the rustling sounds coming from the bamboo trees in the light breeze, the roots of the centuries-old trees, and the fascinating smell of the garden.
Mondello Beach
Mondello Beach is just 11 km from the city centre. It is a paradise for those who love sea life. With fine sand and crystal clear waters, it is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Palermo. Once you get this far, you’ll know what else to do. A boat excursion is also recommended for those who want to practice water sports and explore the magnificent Gulf of Mondello.
Monreale
Monreale, a small town about 15 km from Palermo, is built on a hill of Monte Caputo Mountain. You can easily reach here from Palermo in half an hour by bus. Monreale Cathedral, located in Monreale Square, is considered one of the best examples of Norman architecture. The cathedral’s interior, under UNESCO protection, was formed by combining pieces of gold. The narrow and hilly streets that lead to the square are delightful. A sea view accompanies visitors.