{"id":67970,"date":"2015-10-11T00:41:13","date_gmt":"2015-10-10T23:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=67970"},"modified":"2026-10-12T21:53:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T20:53:50","slug":"visiting-palermo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/visiting-palermo","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Palermo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One can explore Palermo<\/strong> according to geographical, historical or architectural themes, so numerous and varied are its riches. But one can just as well simply stroll through it and discover at random places often overlooked by the guides.
\nThe heart of the city, the Quattro Canti<\/strong><\/a>, is a baroque square at the intersection of the two great central avenues, via Vittorio Emanuele<\/strong> and via Maqueda<\/strong>. The most prestigious buildings are on the west side, with the church and former Arab-Norman mosque of the Church of Saint John of the Hermits<\/strong><\/a>, the splendid Cathedral of Palermo<\/strong><\/a>, and the Palace of the Normans<\/strong><\/a> with its Palatine Chapel<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is a suggestion for discovering Palermo by neighbourhood or area:<\/p>\n

1. The suburbs west of Palermo: Norman palaces and catacombs<\/h2>\n

Access to the city, descending the mountain by the Corso Calatifimi<\/strong>, passes before entering the city by the Norman palace of the Cuba<\/strong><\/a> (Qubba), near the Capuchin Catacombs<\/strong><\/a> in the monastery of the same name further north, famous for their embalmed bodies, and a little further on the Palace of the Zisa<\/strong><\/a>, the most interesting place in this neighbourhood. This Norman palace of Arab architecture was a residence of the Norman kings who governed Sicily there, built within a vast park embellished with gardens, fountains and pools.<\/p>\n

Powered by GetYourGuide<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

2. Corso Calatafimi: From the Palace of the Normans to the cathedral<\/h2>\n
\"Church<\/a>

Saint John of the Hermits<\/p><\/div>\n

The Corso Calatafimi<\/strong> enters the historic centre of Palermo through the Porta Nuova<\/strong><\/a> erected in the 15th century, after which begins the main artery of the centre, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele<\/strong>. On the right stands the splendid Palace of the Normans<\/strong><\/a> and its famous Palatine Chapel<\/strong><\/a>. And a few steps further south, one cannot miss the surprising church of Saint John of the Hermits<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The avenue Vittorio Emanuele joins further on the villa Bonnano in the centre of piazza Vittoria<\/a>, rectangular, with the Palazzo Sclafani<\/strong><\/a> of the 14th century in one of the corners, as well as the hospital and barracks of San Giacomo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Further on, on the left stands the majestic Cathedral of Palermo<\/strong><\/a>, which has changed greatly over the course of history, from its early Christian origin, the time when it was an Arab mosque, then a Norman cathedral, or with the later Spanish alterations. Opposite the sanctuary, archways connect the Archbishop’s Palace<\/a> housing the Diocesan Museum.<\/p>\n

adsensefeed<\/span>
\r\n <\/ins>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n