Palermo in 1 Day: all you need to know

If there is one thing Palermo is not lacking in charm, it is that this southern Italian city is known both for its intense and busy life and for its great stylistic variety, a consequence of all the peoples that have passed through it, including Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Spaniards.

When one thinks of Palermo, its fame inevitably leads one to imagine a decadent and noisy place, where natural disasters and Mafia crimes have taken their toll. However, none of this has been able to take away the overwhelming personality and incredible appeal of this city, where there is no shortage of interesting things to see and do and exquisite local cuisine to enjoy.

One of the advantages of visiting Palermo, especially if you have limited time, is that the distances within its historic center are quite manageable on foot, so with this tour you won't need to take any means of transport and you can enjoy getting lost in the labyrinthine streets that make up the center of this lively city.

However, if you are one of those who prefer to be guided by an expert, you always have the option of hiring a tour of Palermo and thus learn about the history of the capital of Sicily.

The first point on the tour I have prepared for you is the traditional Ballarò Market, one of the oldest and most authentic markets in Palermo. From early in the morning, this place is filled with both locals and tourists who mingle among the bustle and the explosion of colors of the products offered there.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, in this chaotic but charming market, you can find a myriad of different items such as souvenirs, clothing and even household goods.

Next, I am going to ask you to take a short walk from Via Ballarò, where the market is located, to the imposing Palazzo dei Normanni, also known as the Norman Palace, which is considered the most important visit in the city.

The Palazzo dei Normanni

The Palazzo dei Norman ni is one of the most important monuments in Palermo and today it is the seat of the Regional Assembly of Sicily. However, its origins date back to 1130 and it has the honor of being the oldest royal residence in Europe.

One of the most important characteristics of the palazzo is the cultural and stylistic mix of its architecture, which is due to the fact that Byzantine, Norman and even Arab artists were involved in its construction and subsequent interventions.

Some of the most outstanding rooms of this impressive construction are the Sala dei Venti, admired for its delicate mosaics and the Sala di Ruggero II, which served as a bedroom for his majesty.

The Cappella Palatina

However, the Cappella Palatina is considered the star attraction of the Palazzo. Located on the second floor, this beautiful chapel is dedicated to St. Peter and its fame is due to the magnificent golden mosaics that decorate the room and depict scenes from the Old Testament and its Christ Pantocrator.

In addition, a curiosity of this chapel is that in its decoration you can see how elements of Islamic art merge with Byzantine.

• Where: Piazza del Parlamento, 1, 90129 Palermo.
• Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. It is recommended to consult the official website before visiting, as the opening hours are subject to change and not all areas of the palazzo are always available for entry.
• Price: the price of the ticket with full access to all areas of the palazzo is between 15 € and 19 € approximately, depending on the dates.

After the visit to the illustrious Palazzo dei Normanni, your next stop on the way will be another of the most representative monuments of the city, the Cathedral of Palermo.

Just a few meters from the palazzo is the imposing cathedral, which was built in the twelfth century and is particularly striking for its large dimensions and its original Arab-Norman architectural style.

The spectacular temple has undergone numerous renovations throughout its life, which has caused elements from different periods and styles to coexist in the same building, such as the interior of the cathedral, which was renovated in the eighteenth century.

The Cathedral of Palermo is part of the group of monuments that make up the Arab-Norman Circuit of Sicily and has even been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Of particular note is the visit to the crypt and the royal tombs, where the remains of King Ruggero II and a splendid collection of royal jewels rest. However, both the access to the dome and the tombs require a separate entrance.

• Where: Via Vittorio Emanuele, 90134 Palermo.
• Hours: the cathedral is open from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. However, the entrance hours to the crypt and other parts of the cathedral may be different and are subject to change, so it is recommended to consult the official website before the visit.
• Price: the entrance to the cathedral is free, however, you must pay to enter other areas of the temple such as the tombs or the terrace. Tickets are from 1.5 €, depending on the visit you decide to make.

Once you have visited the two most representative buildings of Palermo, I encourage you to take a walk through the charming historic center of the city. In particular, I recommend that you walk along the small stretch that connects the cathedral with the famous Quattro Canti crossroads, which you can reach along Via Vittorio Emanuele.

If you prefer, you also have the option of hiring a sightseeing bus tour of Palermo that will take you through the most emblematic places of the city.

Via Vittorio Emanuele is one of the main streets of Palermo and runs through its historic center. Here you can find cafes, bookstores, stores and even pass by the facade of Palazzo Riso, which houses the Museum of Contemporary Art of Palermo and the Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini.

If you travel to Palermo in summer, you can take the opportunity to try the famous Italian ice cream in one of the gelaterias that are found in the area. If you follow this street, when you reach the intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele you will find yourself in one of the most famous and admired places in Palermo, Quattro Canti.

The four concave facades that form this intersection have a very special beauty. Each has a fountain symbolizing the four seasons of the year and on the top of each fountain are the four viceroys of Sicily and the city's patron saints.

A few meters from the Quattro Canti is the emblematic Piazza Pretoria, known mainly for the Fontana della Vergogna, which translated means fountain of shame and is a gigantic marble construction whose figures depict gods, nymphs and tritons dancing on the water totally or partially naked.

The nickname "fountain of shame" is due to the modesty that society felt in front of the nudity of the monumental Renaissance fountain.

Another feature that has made this beautiful square one of the most important in the city is that it is surrounded by some of the most representative buildings of Palermo, such as the Palazzo Bonocore, the Palazzo Pretorio, which is the seat of the town hall, and the Church Santa Caterina d'Alessandria.

Undoubtedly, Italian gastronomy is one of the most admired and its most emblematic dishes such as pasta, pizza or focaccias are known and enjoyed in almost every part of the world. However, Sicilian cuisine is one of the most different and varied in Italy, partly due to its cultural mix and its proximity to the sea.

When lunchtime approaches, I recommend that you head to Via Maqueda, as in this area of the city you will find a large number of bars and restaurants of all prices where you can enjoy the traditional cuisine of Sicily.

Some of the most typical dishes are pasta con le sarde, a recipe that combines pasta with seafood typical of Palermo, or caponata, a delicious eggplant stew.

Of course, you can find a wide variety of types of pasta and dishes made with seafood. However, if there is one thing you cannot leave without trying, it is the very famous Sicilian cannoli, which consists of a tube of fried dough filled with ricotta cream, although there are some variants such as those filled with chocolate or pistachios.

Another fantastic option if you want to know in depth the cuisine of this city, would be to hire a gastronomic tour of Palermo.

At the end of Via Maqueda, in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, stands the magnificent Teatro Massimo, which has the honor of being the largest lyric theater in Italy and the third largest in Europe.

Built in the 19th century by Giambattista Filippo Basile, this majestic building has a neoclassical façade guarded by two large bronze lions.

Inside, the Teatro Massimo can seat up to 3,200 spectators and is the venue for major opera and ballet performances. In addition, this building is known for being the stage where the final scenes of the famous movie The Godfather III were filmed.

If you want to visit the interior of the theater you have two options. The first is to buy a ticket for one of the shows that are held there and the second is to buy a ticket for a guided tour.

• Where: in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, 90138 Palermo.
• Hours: you can check the schedule of performances on the official website of the Teatro Massimo. The opening hours for guided tours are from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and you can buy the ticket from the same website.
• Price: the price of the ticket with guided tour is about 10 €.

Unlike most markets, the Vucciria Market comes to life in the late afternoon, as the Vucciria neighborhood has become one of the trendiest and liveliest areas to go out for a drink or dinner.

There, you can find a lot of stalls and places to try the famous street food of Palermo, as well as numerous restaurants with terraces.

In addition to strolling through its busy streets and enjoy the atmosphere, you can take the opportunity to relax with a beer or try one of the most famous street foods of Palermo, the arancini. This dish consists of a ball of rice stuffed with different ingredients such as ragu, mozzarella or ham among many others and finally fried in plenty of oil.

A very interesting alternative to get to know the markets of the city and taste the Sicilian gastronomy, would be to hire a guided tour of the local market with gastronomic experience, in which besides being guided by an expert, you would have the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive cooking demonstration and taste the traditional food at the home of a local.

If you still have room left in your stomach and want to treat yourself, I recommend that for dinner you head to the Osteria Ballarò restaurant. Although this restaurant has a somewhat high price, the quality of its products makes it worth it.

The restaurant is located inside the old stables of the Palazzo Cattolica and its menu features typical Sicilian dishes with a creative touch and always prepared with local and seasonal products. In addition, you can enjoy a wide variety of wines of the best quality.

• Where: Via Calascibetta, 25, 90133 Palermo.
• Hours: every day from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
• Price: the average price per person would be about 25 € - 40 € approximately.

Despite not being at the top of the list of the most visited cities in Italy, Palermo has a lot to offer. Its wide range of culture, interesting architecture and lively atmosphere make this city a fantastic vacation destination, but is one day in Palermo enough to enjoy the charms of this chaotic city?

If you do not have much time and only want to visit the highlights of Palermo the answer is yes, it is possible to do it in one day. The short distances between the main monuments of the historical center of this city make it possible to visit its most emblematic places in a short period of time.

However, if you want to know in depth the capital of Sicily and you have the opportunity to extend your trip, I recommend you to spend at least 3 days in Palermo, so you can get to know the city perfectly and in a more relaxed way.

Also, if time permits, you can even book a day trip from Palermo to get to know other parts of Sicily.