What to see in Palermo, a two-day walking itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the Cathedral and the Royal Palace.
Tourist information
Stretched along the homonymous gulf, in the northwestern part of the Conca d’oro, a plain between mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, is Palermo, the capital and beautiful city of Sicily, inhabited by various peoples throughout history.
In Palermo every civilization of the past is well represented by its art, in fact we can admire masterpieces of Arab, Norman, Renaissance, Baroque, Liberty and other art.
Although most of Palermo's monuments are located inside the historic center, historic villas, watchtowers, rock graffiti, tuna traps, ancient noble palaces and churches are located outside it.
Numerous monuments date back to the Norman period, starting with the magnificent Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, whose construction, dating back to 1185, was commissioned by Archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio.
The large architectural complex is the result of a combination of different styles, due to the various construction phases.
In the Royal Palace, now known as Palazzo dei Normanni, seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, on the first floor is the famous Palatine Chapel, built in 1132 by Roger II.
The chapel represents a very high example of Sicilian culture during the Norman domination.
In fact, it was the Norman rulers who transformed the previous Arab building, located in the highest part of the city, into their palace.
What see
Examples of Norman architecture are the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, which with its characteristic red domes may look like a Christian church and at the same time a mosque, the Church of S. Maria dell'Ammiraglio, known as the Martorana with its precious decoration mosaic in pure Byzantine style, the church of San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi, the Basilica La Magione, also known as the church of the Holy Trinity, the Church of San Cataldo, located near the church of the Martorana.
During the Angevin and Aragonese domination the architectural style of the Gothic developed.
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The Church of San Francesco d'Assisi belongs to this period, the interior of which is presented with Baroque renovations, the Church of the Gancia, the Church of Sant'Agostino, the Church of Santa Maria dello Spasimo, which today hosts exhibitions and events , the Church of Santa Maria la Nova and the Church of Santa Maria della Catena.
During the Aragonese rule, valuable noble palaces were also built, such as Palazzo Sclafani, Palazzo Chiaramonte, Palazzo Abatellis, called Palazzo Patella, which houses the Regional Gallery, the Ajutamicristo Palace, characterized by very sumptuous interiors.
Other churches in the city are from the Baroque period, such as the Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini, the Church of the Santissimo Salvatore, the Church of Santa Caterina, the Church of the Gesù or Casa Professa, the Church of Santa Teresa in the Kalsa district, in in front of the Foro Italico, the Church of San Domenico, the new Gallery of Modern Art Sant'Anna, which is located in the ex Franciscan convent of the Baroque era.
Some town planning arrangements of the city also date back to this period, such as Piazza Vigliena or the Quattro Canti and Piazza Pretoria, with its spectacular fountain.
Do not forget some noble residences such as Palazzo Branciforti di Butera, Palazzo dei Principi di Mirto, Palazzo Valguarnera-Gangi, where there is the Sicilian Rococo dance hall, famous for hosting the famous dance scene in the film Il Gattopardo di Luchino Visconti.
Some beautiful Baroque villas rise in Bagheria, near Palermo.
At the beginning of the twentieth century the art of Libery spread and numerous villas and public buildings were built, in particular the bourgeois residences in the hamlet of Mondello date back to this very creative period, which will become the most renowned beach in Palermo.
