Located in the western part of Sicily, Palermo capital of the island, shines for history, culture, architecture and culinary tradition. Throughout its history, the city has seen the passage of many cultures that are still manifested in the rich cultural heritage, artistic and architectural that make Palermo a real jewel.
A starting point for visiting the city can be the Royal Palace, jewel of the Arab-Norman route. Currently, the Palace houses the Assembly of the Sicily Region, seat of the oldest parliament in Europe, the Sicilian parliament. Inside the Palace is the Palatine Chapel, erected in 1130 by King Roger II, the main attraction of the Chapel are the mosaics, made up of two glass plates separated by a thin layer of gold that shines in the light, representing the Word of God.
Walking through the streets of the center you come across the Cathedral, dating back to 1170 and commissioned by Guglielmo II. ; Piazza Pretoria is the exact center of the historic part of the city, characterized by an imposing fountain at its center.
Continuing the walk we arrive at the Quattro Canti, crossroads of four streets, decorated with many statues, which lead us to the neighborhoods of Palermo and other important points of the city such as Via Maqueda, the Teatro Massimo, Piazza Pretoria. Via Maqueda is a pedestrian shopping street where you will find many characteristic shops and all kinds of restaurants; the Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy and also one of the largest in Europe, built with different styles of Greek and Roman inspiration.
Coming out of what were the walls of Palermo we find La Zisa; exceptional testimony of the mixture between Norman art and Arabic art.
Just 5km from Palermo, Monreale is a town rich in history and architecture. A must-see is the Duomo, an architectural masterpiece in which different tastes and styles are mixed. The mosaics inside tell the whole story of the Gospels, the most important and famous is that of the Christ Pantocrator. On the panoramic route Rocca-Monreale you can admire the monumental fountains, rich in symbolic meanings: its iconography refers to concepts of fertility and abundance.
Do not miss the Royal Palace that was once the seat of the Norman kings, Palazzo Cutò, the monumental cemetery, the villa belvedere and the monumental fountains.
