Sicily’s capital, Palermo, has everything you can possibly look for in your holiday destination. Stunning beaches on one side, great architecture and archeological sites on the other, you will never run out of things to do in Palermo.
That said, here is a list of the city’s main attractions that will come very handy when making your travel plans.
Vucciria
If you love Italian food and crafting, you cannot miss the market of Vucciria. Shop after shop display a variety of fresh produce, freshly baked bread, cheese, handmade objects, and much more. You can take a fun walk along the main street and taste some of the best food in the region.
Capuchin Catacombs
Situated on the outskirts of the city at Piazza Cappuccini under the monastery of the Capuchin monks, the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo offer a gallery of over 8000 mummies. The last corpse to be buried here is of a 2-yeal-old child who died in 1920. She is so nicely dressed and preserved that she’s been nicknamed Sleeping Beauty.
Monreale Cathedral
If you love art and architecture, Monreale Duomo in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, is a must! The cathedral is characterized by different styles of architecture due to the several additions and restorations and by refined mosaics portraying stories of Jesus’ life. This cathedral is one of the greatest and most marvelous testimonies of Sicily’s rich history.
Archeological Museum
This is by far Palermo’s best museum. Artifacts belonging to the Greeks, to the Romans, to the Phoenicians and other people, allow you reconstruct the history of Sicily. It is like being in a time machine. Even the building that houses the museum is a gorgeous piece of history itself.
Teatro Massimo
The biggest opera house in Italy represents one of Palermo’s highlights. Located in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, its majestic façade attracts any passerby to stop and take a picture in front of this grand monument. It opened in 1897, 22 years after its construction began. You can take a guided tour for only 3 euros that will not leave you disappointed.
Piazza Pretoria
Piazza Pretoria is Palermo’s most monumental square. In its center, the sixteenth-century fountain stands majestic after being transported here from Tuscany. In fact, this fountain originally decorated the garden of a Tuscan villa but was later purchased by the city of Palermo.
Gardens
After walking around all day, you might want to do a relaxing picnic at the beautiful gardens of Palermo. The chaos of the city disappears as soon as you enter the gardens. Surrounded by huge trees, fountains, and benches, this is the perfect place to rest and recharge the batteries before starting another crazy day of sightseeing.
Etna Volcano
Although Europe’s largest and most active volcano is situated about 3 hours from Palermo, you cannot visit the Island without going there. You can either take a bus, a train, or hire a cheap car via local sites like this one for your whole stay in Sicily. Nothing comes even close to the priceless view from the top of this volcano. Nothing comes even close to the priceless view from the top of this volcano.
Taormina
Once you have seen Mt. Etna, you can take a short road trip north and go to tourists’ favorite town. 206 meters above the sea, Taormina is a gorgeous corner of paradise. You can take a walk around the many shops and boutiques and then rest for a perfect meal while enjoy a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea.
