Travel Guide to Palermo, Italy

This is a beautiful and original city, the real heart of Sicily. Norman Palace, the building of which was started by the Arabs, is the symbol of the city. According to the plan this was meant to be a perfectly fortified citadel, and in the result was built a luxurious residence that became the main place of interest of the city. Palermo has managed to keep many historic monuments, and each of them has a great interest to visitors.

In the city you can see numerous old churches and cathedrals, the most famous of which are Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, the Church of San Cataldo, La Mortarana and Il Duomo Cathedral that is famous far beyond the country's borders. An interesting fact – the majority of the religious buildings in Palermo have been created on the site of Islamic mosques. Capuchin Catacombs are one of the darkest and most symbolic places of the city. This is a real underground city, which was built by monks in medieval times. The unique properties of the underground atmosphere made the mummifying of the body really simple, so many years the Catacombs were considered the most prestigious place for burial. Today the underground tunnels keep approximately 8000 sarcophagi.

Once you leave the dark tunnels, is it time to go to the markets of Palermo, which always amaze visitors by their beauty and a rich choice of products. They are more like luxury fairs rather than the traditional Italian markets. La Vucciria Market offers best seafood, and Mercato di Capo has a department with clothing and accessories besides grocery. Nature lovers should make a walk to the foot of San Pellegrino Mountain to see real orange groves, valleys and mountain streams.