Dotted with beautiful churches, palaces and archaeological remains, Palermo is an attractive and historical city. Some say, Palermo has the highest number of ancient monuments in Sicily, all of which date from the 8th century B.C. and which make the city an important tourist destination. Once called ‘Paradise on Earth’ by the Arab colonists of the 9th century, the city displays its story through its streets, its colourful markets, marvelous food and distinctive cultural identity.
Palermo is the largest city and regional capital of Sicily, and is located on the northern coastline of the island. The city of 675,000 is overlooked by Mount Pelligrino and faces the Gulf of Palermo and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The area has been settled since 8000 B.C. with cave drawings found in the Addaura Cavern on the slopes of Mount Pelligrino proving the presence of early Neolithic man. The city was established by the Phoenicians in 8th century B.C. as a trading port due to its natural harbour, and has been under the control of many other external cultures over the years. During the 3rd century B.C. Sicily came under the control of the Roman Empire and Palermo was administered from Syracuse, the then capital of Sicily. On the collapse of the Roman Empire the island became part of the Byzantine Empire, at which time Palermo became a Greek speaking city and had a long period of stability and security until the 9th century. It was then that the Saracens of North Africa were invited into Sicily to assist the local population in ridding themselves of the Byzantine influence that things changed. The Arabs saw Palermo as mentioned before as ‘Paradise on Earth’, and moved the capital from Syracuse to Palermo. It was during this Muslim dominated period that Palermo became an important commercial and cultural centre, a flourishing city known throughout the Arab world, and home to many domed mosques!! Of course it wasn’t long before things changed, and in 1060 the Normans launched an attack against the Muslim influence and attacked Sicily, taking Palermo in 1072, and leaving behind not only Christianity but beautiful buildings like the Palazzo die Normanni, otherwise called the Palazzo Reale. Later in 1194, Sicily fell under the control of the Holy Roman Empire, only to be taken over by the French in the 13th century and Spain in the 15th century. During the period of Italian unification, Sicily came under the control of the Kingdom of Naples in the 18th century, and of course became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. When once again it became the major administrative, economic and industrial centre of Sicily and developed beyond its historic boundaries!! These cultural influences are clearly visible in the architectural changes that can be seen in the old town of Palermo.
The nucleus of the old historic centre of Palermo is dominated by the Palazzo die Normanni which lies between the Kemonia and Papireto Rivers. It is here that most of the interesting sights can be easily reached on foot. Known for its many Arab/ Norman buildings it is interesting to see the cultural mix in the combination of styles, such as are displayed in the Palazzo Reale, which includes the fantastic Palatine Chapel, and the huge Cathedral of Palermo with its ornate and impressive architecture. The Cathedral is a converted Mosque and comes complete with many Arabic architectural styles!! You must see the Church of Jesus with its very ornate interior which is considered to be the beginning of the Sicilian Baroque Period. Also have a look at the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, or the Church of Saint John the Hermits, and spend some time walking amongst the ruins of the cloisters and a small park, which is a beautiful quiet space!! For something different search out the Capuchin Catacombs, and for a complete change see the International Puppet Museum of Palermo, which displays traditional marionettes and conducts shows during the week!!
Just a few tips!! Be aware of the summer heat which can be severe. The traffic in the city is chaotic. Safety - pick pockets and bag snatchers are about, just be careful!!
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