Palermo is a city of Italy – marked by history, architecture and modernity. The city has been beautifully landscaped since its inception, which has helped it become one of the favourite tourist destinations for tourists. After cities like Milan, Florence, this city has gained economic development in parallel with their history.
This iconic city has always been known as one of the most important cities in Italy in the European Union. Tourists visiting here get the most modernized facilities. Therefore, this city is the most advanced in the north-western regions of Italy.
I will discuss how a typical tourist can enhance his travel experience and what he needs to be aware of while visiting the city of Palermo.
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All About Palermo
Palermo is a city in southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan city of Palermo. It is part of the north-western, mainly the island of Sicily.
This city was founded by Phoenicians in 736 BC. From 831 to 1072, it was under Arab rule and also as a capital known as Balarm. Then after a few centuries it became part of the kingdom of Sicily. The inhabitants are known as Palermitani. They speak in the Italian language.
The city is spread over an area of 158.9 square kilometers and has a population of about 6, 76,118 people. It is one of the most densely populated cities in Italy. The economic condition of the people of this city is very prosperous. The metropolitan area here ranks third among the regions in Italy.
Palermo is Sicily’s cultural, economic and tourism capital. This city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, and has played an important role throughout much of its existence over 2,700 years old.
This city is rich in history, art, music and food. These tourists are very attractive to the city and every year a large number of visitors explore its beauty.
Then there is also an important point that attracts tourists. The point is that the city has a Mediterranean climate. This climate is more favorable to explore the particular City than their expectation.
This city is renowned in gastronomy and restaurants, its Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau churches, palaces and buildings. Here tourists can gather perfect detailed information from these architectures.
The city is the main Industrial and commercial center of the Sicily region. These main sectors are mainly industrial sectors including tourism, services, commerce and Agriculture.
It has an International Airport and a significant underground economy. All the communication systems of the city are more developed than other cities of Italy.
For cultural, architectural and economical reasons, the city became one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean. These connections between all the sectors help to reach the top list destination place in Italy.
The city is included in the World Heritage Site which has been declared by UNESCO. Behind this careful redevelopment and preparing to become one of the Roman Catholicism. All these sectors are historically important in Palermo culture.
This city is also known for its colorful fruits, vegetable and fish markets. These are locally called Vucciria, Bellaro and capo.
Top 5 places of Palermo
1. Palermo Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palermo)
This is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese Palermo, located in the central part. It is dedicated to the assumption of the Virgin Mary.
It is characterized by the presence of different styles, long history and restoration. This building was established in 1185 in a structural style of Normann, Islamic and Gothic.
Here the tourists will get to know about the Church based on the ancient Roman religion. You can also travel to the place to learn about the architecture of the charges and how they were able to be destroyed so powerfully.
2. Norman Palace
This is the royal palace of Palermo. This Grand place was the seat of Sicilian Kings. In the palace, usually the high profile people lived here and maintained their government work in this particular City of Sicily.
Since 1946 it has been the seat of the Sicilian regional assembly. Now it turns into a visiting place and every year a large number of people come here to explore the Sicilian Kings residence. It is considered as one of the oldest Royal Residences of all time.
3. Teatro Massimo
This is one of the largest Opera Houses in Europe. This is known for its new classical architecture with impressive acoustics.
Its construction period was between 1875 to 1897 and the architect was GBF Basile and Ernesto basile. The size of the Opera house is about 7,730 square meters.
All types of visitors can easily learn about the golden history and culture through different types of plays that are held in this Opera House. As it is one of the largest ones in Europe, so normally attracts tourists to visit it.
4. Catacombe dei Cappuccini (Capuchin Catacombs)
This is one of the fascinating attractions of Palermo. It houses the naturally mummified bodies of friars, citizens and also the children.
This is really a scary place for those who are weak hearted. But really it is a very unique place to explore some different things. They provide a somewhat macabre tourist attraction as well as an extraordinary historical record.
The work of this architecture started in the 16th century. In 1599 the first mummification was placed, that of the recently deceased Silvestro of Gubbio. Now a huge number of deceased mummified people are present.
5. Vucciria Market
This is an ancient large market and neighborhood with shops and table selling products, producing Food items located in the ancient quarter of Castellammare of central Palermo.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the sight, sounds and aromas of this busting market. Here lots of fresh seafood, local products and unique souvenirs are commonly present.
There are special discounts for tourists so they can buy products from here. As a result, this market is always crowded with tourists. You can also collect small pizzas and other specialty foods.
Tips from our Diary
1. At first when you go to the Palermo cathedral, you should keep in mind that this is a religious place and you should keep modesty in your dress and you should cover your knees and Shoulders.
2. We know that most of the cities of Italy are walkable. So you can explore Palermo city with the best experience on foot. For this reason, you have to wear comfortable shoes.
3. The best time to visit Palermo city is in the spring and autumn because at that time the weather of the city became quite mild. And also the presence of few crowds in the visiting places.
4. You can try some of Palermo’s delicious street food, such as arancini (fried rice balls) and cannoli (pastry shells filled with ricotta cheese).
So today I have discussed Palermo, one of the most important cities in Italy. Like the cities of Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, Turin, Bologna, Verona, are also tourist-centric cities in Italy.
Various parts of the history of ancient Rome are scattered in different parts of the city. As well as various economic evidence from antiquity to the middle Ages and the present century. This city is a must visit to learn about Italy’s rich history. I think your travel experience will be much better than mine. If you follow my personal tips given at the end of the article, you will be able to organize your trip more beautifully.