If you only have 2 days to visit Palermo, then you not only know the sites and major attractions but also extend the range of your visit and deepen your discovery.
1day
- S. John of the Hermits: Start your visit by the church of San Giovanni of the Hermits with its lovely cloister and its exotic garden. Since last 3 Also in July this charming little church has been inserted in the Arab-Norman trail UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Royal Palace: Then continue to the nearby Royal Palace where a must is the visit of the Palatine Chapel.
- Cattedrale: Then arrived in Cathedral, beyond the normal tour of the cathedral, we suggest you visit the rooftop to enjoy a breathtaking view of the historic city center.
- Cassaro: Leaving the cathedral, continue along the Cassaro (Corso Vittorio Emanuele), the old main road that connected, and still connects, the sea to the small hill of the Royal Palace.
- Church of SS Salvatore: Along the Cassaro, take a trip to the Church of SS Salvatore, church of Norman origin, rebuilt in the Baroque period and covered with colored marble. L'building, particularly interesting as it is one of the few examples in Palermo church with elliptical, It suffered heavy bombing during World War II but was quickly rebuilt following the scientific restoration technique.
- Quattri Canti, Piazza Pretoria Piazza Bellini: Drive along the Cassaro up to Quattri Canti, turn right to enjoy the show in Pretoria Square, surrounded by the majestic church of St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Joseph of Teatini and arrive in Piazza Bellini, where must is the visit of Admiral St. Mary church, known as the Martorana.
- Kalsa: At this point, after admiring the splendid mosaics of the Martorana, take the descent of Judges, cross the Via Roma and Piazza S.Anna, entries to Kalsa. founded in 937 by Arabs, Al risk, the chosen one, It is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Palermo where he still, through alleys, churches and palaces, you can breathe the air of an exotic world and back in time.
- Via Alloro e Palazzo Abatellis: After visiting the beautiful church of San Francesco and the jewel that is the oratory of S. Lorenzo, continue your walk along the ancient Via Alloro, where you can enter the Regional Gallery of Palazzo Abatellis, whose fresco of the Triumph of Death, or the Annunciation by Antonello da Messina, are worth a visit on.
- Piazza Magione: Take one of the narrow streets that lead you to Piazza Magione and here, besides the eponymous medieval church, do not miss to visit the Church of the Pang. It is a place full of charm and appeal, an early sixteenth-century church abandoned by the friars to allow the construction of a bulwark in defense of the ancient city. The church is currently being restored but it will still leave you amazed the open sky that opens above you.
- Piazza Marina and “La Cala”: Then returned to the streets Marina, passing from the popular square Kalsa and along Via Butera or the Foro Italico. Finish your walk to Cala, the ancient port of Palermo, and enjoy the view of the small marina which overlooks the city.
2day
- Cathedral of Monreale: I suggest you, first of all, to make a small detour off the door and go to admire the unique Cathedral of Monreale. We are a few kilometers from downtown Palermo, You will then need a means to move. If you opt for public buses, between traffic and waits at bus stops, equip yourself with a fair amount of patience. In Monreale await you the Norman Cathedral of the late twelfth century. with its exceptional mosaic mantle (considered that it is 6000 square meters of manufacturing Byzantine mosaics) and enchanting cloisters, a perfect square with dozens of decorated columns and relief carved capitals. Enjoy a peaceful walk in the silent cloister and, among the many carved, try the famous capital with the image of the Norman King William II, kneeling, It is offering a model of the cathedral to the Virgin.
- Capuchin Catacombs: Returning to Palermo, a particular stage is that the visit of the Catacombs of the Capuchins. If you have a developed taste for the macabre, then this is the place for you! Hundreds of Capuchin friars mummies and rich that Palermo, For centuries (the beginning of '600 until the beginning of' 900 when this type of burial was forbidden) They are made to bury, or better, exhibit here.
- Palazzo della Zisa: Another stop certainly interesting Palermo, a little 'outside the historic center and then you have to catch up with its own means, It is the Palazzo della Zisa. Al Aziz, the splendid, This was the name that the Norman kings gave their palace outside the ancient city walls.
- Historical markets: Another thing not to be missed if you come to Palermo's take a trip to one of the historical markets. In Palermo there are three, all of ancient origin, probably Arabic, that remain of the places out of time, from space and at times by the rules. The Capo Market stretches in the district, you can access it from Porta Carini, one of the ancient gates of the city, after admiring the Teatro Politeama and the Teatro Massimo, the two main nineteenth-century theaters. to Cape, as well as make you stun by Color, perfumes and abbanniate (classic sellers shouts touting their wares), be sure to enter the small church of the Annunciation to the Head, one of the richest jewels of the Baroque Palermo, and in the church of St. Augustine with its beautiful Renaissance cloister. Another historical market of Palermo Ballaro, from Arabic Souq al Balari, where in the Arab era sellers from Balara,near Monreale, They came to sell their wares. Also here, alleys and streets where you can hardly pass through the stalls, miss between the bright colors of the fruit stalls, vegetables and fish and treat yourself to some snacks with the typical street food. A Ballarò worth visiting the Jesuit Church of Professed House, triumph of the baroque excesses Palermo, largely rebuilt after the bombings of war that brought down the roof and part of the aisles. finally, the day it can be concluded by taking a stroll in the area of Vucciria. The Vucciria market is perhaps the best known of those Palermo, thanks to Renato Guttuso that made him famous with his painting of the same name. Unfortunately, today the market has lost much of its wealth and its charm is less alive of the three historic markets. Area, with the central square Caracciolo, It comes alive especially in the evening and is now a meeting place for young and Erasmus students who spend the night here, including a glass of wine at the historic Taverna Azzurra and broiled fish at the time of one of the many grills that are mounted in the evening for a quick and tasty dinner outdoors!
- Church of San Domenico: In the area do not miss the monumental Church of San Domenico and, mostly, the splendid oratory S.Cita, triumph of the stucco decoration of the famous master Serpotta Palermo.
