10 Things to Do in Palermo in February

The high season in Palermo is during the summer and the summer months are the best for touring the island, enjoying the nearby beaches and festivals, but in winter the Sicilian capital also offers many alternatives, especially in February, when the weather is ideal for skiing, touring the snow-capped peaks of Etna and for a windsurfing experience in Mondello.

Among the best things to see and do in Palermo in February are attending the opening of the opera at the Teatro Massimo, taking part in the carnivals in Acireale, experiencing the patron saint festivities of Sant'Agata, participating in the Almond Blossom Festival in Agrigento and making the most of seasonal discounts at the stores on Via Vittorio Emanuele.

Palermo, like many other cities in Italy, is characterized by fashion and great clothing stores. If you visit the Sicilian capital in February you can access the seasonal discounts in the stores of Via Vittorio Emanuele, some of which are very exclusive, so it is a good opportunity for you to save by buying products in a more economical way.

The stores include clothing for the whole family, so it can also be an ideal option if you plan to visit Palermo with children, and you can make the most of your visit by booking some of the best gastronomic tours of the city or any other excursion, as Via Vittorio Emanuele is among the main arteries of Palermo.

Note also that you can book shopping excursions that will take you through other shopping sites in the city or tour the city on your own and at your own pace to get the best discounts.

In 1848 the Spring of the Peoples started a constitutionalist wave throughout Europe that sought to eradicate the power of monarchies and autocratic states ruled by dictators. That movement began on January 12 with an uprising in Palermo and lit the fuse of the European explosion, but it also generated an insurrection in Sicily that led to the promulgation of a local constitution on February 11, less than a month after the first conflict.

Some time after the promulgation of the constitution, the national army reconquered Sicily and restored absolutism, but the Palermo uprising had been enough to revolutionize all of Europe. If you visit the Sicilian capital in February you can experience the commemorations of the 1848 Constitution and learn more about the island's independence movements.

Among the city's festivities you can attend parades, see exhibitions in Palermo's best museums and meet many Sicilians who continue to defend the island's autonomy and the validity of the 1848 Constitution, which is still considered one of the first liberal charters in the world.

February is the month of carnivals all over the world and Sicily is no exception, as you can attend the famous Carnival of Acireale, which is one of the oldest and most picturesque in Italy, with its parade of flowered papier-mâché floats and masked groups. Acireale is located on the east coast of the island, 1 hour and a half from the center of Palermo.

In Acireale the carnival contrasts with the medieval city, of baroque style, that lends its streets for this centenary celebration, that in addition to the festive spirit stands out for the gastronomy and for the quantity of visitors that fill the streets to follow the itinerary of the colorful floats.

The Carnival of Acireale has a tradition of over 500 years and the parade of allegorical floats attracts many tourists every year, especially from southern Italy. If you want to take part in the festivities note that you can buy a ticket to have access also to musical concerts and costume parties.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets for the complete carnival shows have an initial cost of approximately 5 euros per person.
• Location... Acireale, Catania.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

The Teatro Massimo is the largest theater in Italy and one of the largest in Europe and, along with the Cathedral and the Norman Palace, one of the main buildings in Palermo, which stands out for its contribution to the architectural and cultural heritage. The theater inaugurates its opera season every year in February, so if you visit the city during the month you can participate in the opening concerts.

During the opening of the opera you can attend the concerts with discounted tickets and also witness some of the best performances on the calendar, as classical music masters and choristers from all over the country perform as guests during the performances, in a ceremony that has become a tradition in the Sicilian capital.

If you are planning to visit Palermo in winter and you are a fan of classical music I recommend you not to miss these shows, which are among the best of their kind in Italy. Note also that tickets may sell out, so I recommend you book your tickets in advance.

Details of interest

• Price... Tickets for the opening opera performances have a starting cost of approximately €25 per person.
• Location... Teatro Massimo, Palermo.
• How to get there... By bus lines 104 and 108 or by Palermo hop on-hop off tour buses.

Palermo has many patron saint festivals, but one of the best known is that of Sant'Agata, which is celebrated every year between February 3 and 6. Sant'Agata was, according to Catholic tradition, a saint and virgin martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Decius and is now venerated in Italy, in San Marino and on the island of Malta.

The patron saint festivities take place all over the island, although the main epicenter is in Catania, where the Cathedral of Sant'Agata is located. Catania is considered the third most important religious feast in the world and in Sicily it is a tradition that the faithful start the festivities in any corner of the island and make a pilgrimage to the cathedral to thank Sant'Agata.

During these celebrations you can see how the center of the cities are illuminated and decorated with the insignia of Sant'Agata and its colors, and how the devotees go on pilgrimage behind the images of the Virgin dressed in the traditional Sicilian sackcloth. Without a doubt, visiting the Cathedral of Catania to experience live the celebrations in the epicenter of the celebration is one of the best things to do from Palermo.

Interesting details

• Price... You can participate in the patron saint festivities for free.
• Location... In different parts of Sicily, although the epicenter of the festivities is in Catania.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

Etna is one of the largest living volcanoes in the world and a natural wonder, which is located in the eastern part of the island. If you are fond of adventure tours or just want to live a different experience during your trip, in February you can take an excursion to discover the snowy peaks of the volcano.

These excursions are usually full day and you can choose to know the volcano from the base or climb to the top. If you want to discover the snow-capped peaks I recommend that you choose the second option to marvel at one of the most incredible images of nature, which is provided by this constantly erupting volcano melting the snow with its fleeting lava flows.

If you want to make the most of your visit you can also visit Taormina, which is a historic town characterized by its Greek theater and Hellenic ruins. You can also choose to make the excursion on your own.

Please note that if you choose a full day excursion you will find it difficult to combine it with a short stay in the city, as Etna is about 2 hours drive from Palermo. If that is your case here is a list of activities you can do to get to know Palermo in 2 days.

Details of interest

• Price... The excursions to reach the snowy summit of Etna volcano have an initial cost of approximately 220 euros per person and include the rental of equipment and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Location... Catania, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

Although it snows in Sicily during the winter the precipitations are not very copious and the only month in which it is possible to use the snow for extreme sports is in February. Piano Battaglia, the only formal ski resort on the island, is located in the heart of Parco delle Madonie and not only offers unmissable scenery but also skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing experiences.

Parco delle Madonie is a famous site on the island because if you visit Palermo during Christmas you can go there to see the fireworks show, but its real attraction is the accumulation of snow on the ski slope, which many visitors use in February for skiing and snowboarding.

At Piano Battaglia you can enter by paying an entrance fee and then use your equipment or rent the complete ski equipment, which is the option chosen by most visitors.

Details of interest

• Price... The entrance to Piano Battaglia has an initial cost of approximately 25 euros. Full equipment rental starts at 55 euros.
• Location... Madonia, Palermo.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

The Mondello Prize is one of the most prestigious literary competitions in southern Italy and is awarded every year in November in Palermo. This recognition distinguishes the best Sicilian writers in different segments and after Christmas and New Year the winners restart the presentation activities.

In February, at the Politeama Theater, the conferences with the winners of the Mondello Prize are held, so if you are planning to visit the Sicilian capital in winter and you are fond of literature you can be part of this event that is free admission and aims to promote culture in the city.

The conference dates usually fall in the second half of February and, in addition to the winners, the colloquiums also usually feature influential speakers of Italian literature, so if you are looking for an alternative cultural plan in Palermo this cycle of exhibitions could give you the solution.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the conferences is free, although in February you will need to register on the Mondello Prize website to secure your place.
• Location... Teatro Politeama, Palermo.
• How to get there... By bus lines 101, 107 and N5 or by Palermo hop on-hop off tour buses.

The Almond Blossom Festival is a popular fair that takes place every year, during the first week of February, in Agrigento, in the outskirts of Palermo. This festival celebrates the blossoming of the almond trees in the prelude to spring and attracts a large number of folk groups from southern Italy.

The main event of the festival takes place during the closing, when the groups parade with Sicilian chariots and marching bands from the city of Agrigento to the Valley of the Temples, which is one of the main attractions of Sicily and also one of the most important Hellenic ruins outside Greece.

In addition, the Almond Blossom Festival officially closes with the entry of the Golden Temple Award, which rewards the most outstanding producer. During the fair, in addition to parades and musical concerts, food and drink stalls are also set up in the fairground area.

Details of interest

• Price... Entrance to the fairgrounds has an initial cost of approximately 5 euros per person.
• Location... Agrigento, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

February is the coldest month of the year in Palermo and also the one with the most rainy and snowy days, so on more than one occasion you will have to opt for plans indoors. The best options for bad weather days are the museums, among which the Capilla Palatina and the Catacombs of the Capuchins stand out.

The Palatine Chapel is located on the first floor of the Norman Palace and with its internal columns and decorations of Arab and Byzantine mosaics is one of the most beautiful buildings in Palermo, while in the Catacombs of the Capuchins you can visit the tomb of mummies of friars, bishops and ecclesiastical personalities over 500 years old.

You can also visit the International Puppet Museum, which during February inaugurates its annual opera dei pupi season, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Ethnographic Museum and the Sicilian Mafia Museum, which are usually included in the best mafia tours in Palermo.

February is the coldest month of the year in Palermo with highs of 14°, lows of 8° and average temperatures of 11°, with abundant snowfall and rainy days. In addition, it is also a very windy month.

If you are planning to visit Palermo in February, I advise you to always pack warm and waterproof clothing, as the rains are often surprising.

Winter in the Sicilian capital is low season, so you will see that the influx of tourists decreases substantially and the main attractions are free of public, something similar to what happens if you visit Palermo in January.

Because of the low influx of people you can book excursions at the last minute and also access to lower prices during your visit.

Being part of the low season, if you visit Palermo in February you will be able to access lower prices than during the rest of the year, especially in accommodations and excursions. You will also be able to access seasonal discounts in clothing stores.

February is an economical time to visit Palermo, especially if you want to save during your visit. You can also book tours in advance online to access other discounts and freeze the price before your visit.

February is a cold and rainy month in Palermo, so I recommend you include the following in your suitcase:

• Winter coats
• Waterproof and comfortable boots
• Thermal socks
• Waterproof and tactile gloves
• Woolen hat
• Woolen scarves
• Sunglasses
• Wool sweaters
• Fleece pants
• Thermal fleece