Travel to Palermo

Travel to Palermo

Palermo has a rich history having been ruled by the Arabs, Romans, Normans, Swabians and the Spanish throughout the centuries. This has left a conspicuous mark on its culture which can be seen in the architecture of the buildings, the music, art and even the cuisine that is available in the city. There are Baroque churches and buildings that embrace Arab, Gothic and Neoclassical styles, markets such as those found in Africa, horse drawn carriages and youths on vespas. The cosmopolitan city is pulsating with energy and on every corner you can meet people from different parts of the world. There are many diverse foods on offer, from pasta to sushi, and wanton noodles to kebabs. Palermo is a wonderfully fascinating and rich city which offers so much to the visitor.

Transportation to Palermo

Palermo is well serviced by ferries, trains, highways and domestic and international flights. The Grandi Navi Veloci and Tirrenia ferry companies offer about 3 trips per week, depending on the season. The Grandi Navi Veloci ferries sail from Genoa, Livorno and Rome while the Tirrena ferries sail from Naples. Both ferries allow cars on board. Many European cities have train services that connect to major Italian cities; from here passengers will have to link up with domestic train services to reach Palermo. There are direct trains from Rome via Naples, Taormina, Catni and Siracusa. The Falcone Borsellino (PMO) Airport in Palermo is about 25kms out of the city. There are direct flights from all major Italian airports and international flights from Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Cologne, London and many other key European cities. Shuttle buses and taxis are readily available from the airport to the city and several major car rental operators have offices at the airport. The motorways leading to Palermo, mainly the A3, A20 and A18, are well maintained and have clear sign-postings. There are quite a number of bus services arriving at Palermo daily. These arrive from local and international destinations throughout Europe. Eurolines buses have a wide network service area throughout Italy and Europe.

What to see

To really appreciate this cosmopolitan city visit the Quattro Canti, the heart of the old city. Here there is an unusual square, with a 17th century palace on each corner. Kalsa, the Arabic quarters, is fairly close to the sea and was once the base for the Arab military. Today, it is very pleasant to stroll through its narrow and meandering lanes before reachine the square. The 16th century Porta dei Greci, the gateway also known as Porta dAfrica can be seen while exploring Kalsa. Real Tenuta della Favorita is a park that was once the hunting grounds for Ferdinando III and well worth a visit. Ferdinando III was so enamoured by the forest that he had a palace, built in the Oriental style, commissioned. The palace, Casina Chinese, can still be seen today. Visitors should not miss the Vuccira, the Sicilian styled market favoured by the locals. Here you can buy cooked and fresh food including meat, vegetables, fruit and seafood. Located in the Plazzo dei Normanni is the Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) that dates back to 1143. The chapel truly illustrates the architecture of past civilisations that have ruled Palermo; Byzantine, Norman, Arabic, Sicilian and Neo classic styles can all be seen in this one structure. The oldest church in Palermo is the 15th century Santa Maria degli Angeli built in the Gothic style and filled with paintings, stuccoes and wooden sculptures. There are several museums to visit but the two which stand out are the Museum of Islam, located in the Casello della Zisa, itself a beautiful building, that gives an insight into the Arabic culture in Sicily and the Sicilian Regional Gallery, which has paintings, pottery and sculptures from the 11th and 17th centuries.

Day trips

There are two places of particular interest and beauty to visit on the outskirts of Palermo; Mondello with its beautiful beach and picturesque village and the 12th century Duomo of Monreale, which lies on top of a hill and consists of a cathedral, an abbey, the bishops palace and the royal palace. The structures are a mixture of Byzantine, Romanesque and Arabic architectural styles paying testimony to past civilisations that ruled the area.

Activities and leisure

The Mondello beach offers a wide variety of water sports from jet skiing, sailing, scuba diving and parasailing. Naturally, the warm clear waters invite swimming and the soft sands are the perfect place to roll out a towel and sunbathe. Golfing is quite popular in Palermo where there are a few challenging courses to improve your golfing strokes. Horse riding, cycling and walking are also common activities here and can be arranged by most hotels or by tour operators in the city. Visitors can spend an entertaining night at Borgo Vecchio, Piazza Olivella or Teatro Massimo with its night clubs, bars and dance clubs.

Safety issues

Palermo is quite different from other foreign cities due to its culture and history. Not many residents speak English and it can be quite confusing to find information on schedules and itineraries. There are also the usual cases of pick-pocketing, as in all major cities, and tourists are always advised to be careful of their wallets, purses and other belongings. It is recommended that travel insurance is purchased as this will definitely come in useful should you miss your flight or train.