Imagine waking up in Palermo
Imagine strolling the legendary streets of Sicily in Palermo…Palermo, the capital city of Sicily, is eventful, exotic, intriguing and fascinating in every aspect. It is the city which most encapsulates Sicily, and it is the home to some of the region's most significant historical finds. Palermo is a busy port city situated on the northwestern coast of the island that was one of Europe’s leading cities in the Middle Ages.

The city sits in a natural amphitheater called the “Conca d’Oro” – Golden Shell and possesses captivating architecture to be admired, as well as museums, churches, markets and restaurants that bring out Palermo’s unique personality.  Among the most prominent attractions are the city's cathedral at Monreale, one of the great sites of Norman Sicily, and the Saracen-Norman-Spanish Palazzo Reale (or Palazzo dei Normanni), a former royal palace added to and altered over the centuries, which is now the seat of the local parliament. You can visit parts of the original building, including the Cappella Palatina, an exquisite chapel containing rich mosaics that depict famous scenes from the bible.

Other sights of interest include La Martorana, a splendid Norman church with a Baroque façade, the Vucciria market and imposing Teatro Massimo. Plays featuring marionettes are a local tradition, and travelers may visit the Puppet Museum (Museo delle Marionette) to learn more about the history of the art and see a performance. Palermo also has alluring places to shop, many of which are conveniently located in the city's center around Via Maqueda and Via Libertà.  Treasure seekers may also want to stop on the side streets, where quaint shops sell everything from antiques to Sicilian-made specialty goods such as ceramic items and distinctive jewelry.

Sicily’s premiere museum Museo Archeologico Regionale contains archaeological exhibits from the ancient Phoenician, Greek and Roman sites in western Sicily including sculptures from the Greek temples at Selinunte.
For an unusual glimpse into history, it's worth making a trip to the Convento dei Cappuccini's catacombs.

From the exciting city of Palermo, travelers can enjoy excursions and overnight stays to old world towns and seaside villages such as Agrigento, Selinunte, Marsala, Taormina, and Siracusa across enchanting Sicily.