- 1
We will pass through the Royal Palace, through Porta Nuova and Villa Bonanno. Among the most visited buildings in all of Sicily, the Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo is the oldest royal residence in Europe, today the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. Inside there are several courtyards, including the Cortile Maqueda, and the Cortile della Fontana. From the patio you enter the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, while on the first level there is the Palatine Chapel. Many works of art contained in the Palace, with masterpieces of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries by Francesco Lojacono, Antonino Leto, Joan Mirò and Renato Guttuso.
- 2
You will be dropped off by your driver in Piazza Guglielmo II. Here you will be able to visit the beautiful cathedral of Monreale. It has been included in the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites and is considered one of the most important medieval churches in the world.
The mosaics of the cathedral are simply unique and perfect. It is also possible to access, for a fee, different areas of the cathedral, such as the terraces.
From Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II you can see the Duomo, while calmly admiring the garden with the famous marble fountain called Fontana del Tritone.
Another place that is impossible to resist is the Belvedere, located a few steps from the Town Hall. From the Belvedere it is possible to overlook the Conca d'Oro and let yourself be conquered by the hills of Palermo.
- 3
Palermo Cathedral, the most characteristic building in the city.
Its construction dates back to 1184 by the will of Archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed into heaven. Since July 3, 2015 it is part of the World Heritage Site (Unesco). The main entrance of the Cathedral is free, but if you want to visit the monumental area and the roofs of the Cathedral of Palermo, from which you can appreciate a wonderful and suggestive view of the city, you have to pay a ticket.
- 4
The Capo Market in Palermo is still located in the upper part of the ancient Arab quarter of Schiavoni, pirates and slave traders. A very popular neighborhood, it was formed in the Muslim age and is nestled between baroque churches and iconic street food.
The main entrance to the market is given by the fourteenth-century Porta Carini.
A narrow street widens and narrows between the stalls that project from the outside, people make it impractical because it stops to observe, taste and buy.
It is also the perfect place to find culinary souvenirs, typical vacuum-packed products such as dried tomatoes, capers, spices and anchovies in oil, sardines in salt. It is also considered the fish market par excellence.
Bright colors and inebriating perfumes mix with typical specialties and the voices of the merchants, the "abbanniate" inviting to buy their goods.
This is why the market is a place not to be missed.
STOP ON REQUEST
- 5
From the Capo Market we go down to Piazza Verdi in front of the Massimo Theater. Follow Via Roma which cuts Piazza San Domenico where the church of the same name is located.
Over the years many buildings have been built on the sides of the street, including the headquarters of some banks, the Palazzo delle Poste, the Biondo theater, the Palazzo del Banco di Sicilia and other numerous buildings built in the Eclectic or Liberty style. At the intersection with Corso Vittorio Emanuele we go up to reach the Quattro Canti.
- 6
You will be left in Piazza Pretoria, where you will visit the main churches, including the La Martorana church, San Cataldo church, San Giuseppe dei Teatini church, the Fontana della Vergogna and the four corners. Continue with the Chiesa del Gesù (Casa Professa), one of the most important Baroque churches in Palermo, towards the historic market of Ballarò.
With over 1000 years of history, the market is one of the oldest testimonies still existing in Palermo. It rises in the hugely popular district of Albergheria and over the years has been able to develop, while always maintaining its unmistakable style.
Among the stalls and shops of the Ballarò you can buy meat, fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, coming directly from the Palermo countryside, and also cheeses, typical products, sweets.
In addition to the classic stalls, there are many places where you can sit and eat typical dishes with very affordable prices.
Ballarò is also famous for many prestigious monuments that are located inside, such as the Tower of S. Nicolò which allows you to have a 360 ° panoramic view of Palermo, the Church of Carmine Maggiore and the Chamber of Wonders.
- 7
Visit Monte Pellegrino to get to know the incredible cave of the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of the city of Palermo, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the whole city.
- 8
The Gulf of Mondello is one of the most extraordinary places on the island, at the foot of Monte Pellegrino. Mondello's atmosphere seems almost tropical thanks to its colors. Full of services, restaurants, small shops, nautical clubs and a small port.
This area is full of villas, all in Liberty style.
