Are you coming in Sicily and do you think you don’t have enough time to explore every corner of the island?
How to visit the city the way we do
Here’s some gems to enjoy a day in Palermo, in our own way!
Everyone talk about the vast artistic, historical and cultural Palermo’s heritage.
Visiting it in one day is impossible but follow our advices to retrace its history and its culture.
You must know that the citizen of Palermo does not like to plan his day but you have to calculate every little move to avoid last minute complications.
Ah! Wear a comfortable outfit, let’s go!
Morning
Ballarò Market
We Start from one of the biggest historical markets in the city. In the district of the Albergheria, from Piazza Casa Professa to the sixteenth-century walls of Corso Tukory, you can find and visit Ballarò Old Market.
A continuous swarm of colors, smells, flavors and “cries” of sellers who promote their products by praising the value for money through the technique of “abbanniata” (basically screaming at loud!).
Among the Arab-Norman monuments
From the Ballarò market continue to via Maqueda and we walk it up to the Quattro Canti, a gigantic baroque monument across to Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Well, don’t be with blinkers… A few feet on the right, nude statues will kidnap your gaze. They are the mythological characters of Fountain of Shame in Pretoria Square. Adjacent to the Square it is a churches triptych: St. Catherine, the Church of San Cataldo with its characteristic Arabic style and Santa Maria Dell’Ammiraglio or Martorana stand on Bellini.
Square
History, cultures… First Snack!
Small break mid-morning. Bars, pastry shops, rotisseries and hot plates to sink into Sicilian gastronomy: Arancine, Calzoni, Panelle, Crocchè, Cannoli, Iris, Cases ricotta cheese for an average of about 3 euros.
Well now that you have done your “snack” we take two footsteps to Corso Vittorio Emanuele. And here it is His Majesty the Cathedral of Palermo: façade in Catalan Gothic style, late Baroque dome, interior in neoclassical style with Latin cross and with three naves.
Symbol par excellence of cultures, styles and peoples that have crossed the city over the centuries. Evident signs are also available at Palazzo dei Normanni and the Church of St. John of the Hermits (reachable towards Indipendance Square).
Last Stop before lunch
From Independence Square lets’go to Castle of Zisa, originally the summer residence of William I today Museum of Islamic Art, testimony of the Norman Dominion in Sicily.
Walking for about 10 minutes, bravest can visit Capuchin Catacombs, instead the hungry people, along the streets that lead to the two most important squares of the city, can taste traditional and international cuisine.
See you in Politeama Square where stands the Politeama’s Theatre, one of the city’s most iconic theatres.
Politeama Square encloses Ruggero Settimo Square and Castelnuovo Square and it represents the focal Point of Palermo. Here citizens spend their time to relax and shopping walking along via Libertà and via Ruggero Settimo.
Relax and… Strong Aperitif
At the end of Via Ruggero Settimo we will see Massimo Theatre in Verdi Square, the largest neoclassical lyric theatre in Italy.
The area is dedicated to the Movida Palermitana, just take one of the narrow streets in front of the Theater to access to “Champagneria” an area dedicated to food and drink, traditional dishes and rich buffets.
The City that never sleeps
Still not satisfied and still have the strength to continue the day?
No problem!
We Cross the Champagneria to arrive in via Roma and access to the Vucciria area, a day Market, meeting place for young lovers of Street Food in the evening: boiled octopus, stigghiole, oysters, bread with panelle and cazzilli, bread with spleen, scrapings and many other excellences cooked at the moment.
Are you tired? 10 minute walk to arrive in Revolution Square: ideal place to enjoy the late night evening among the little locals and pubs with its good live music!
Enjoy your holiday with MetropolitanPass Palermo!