CITY DESTINATION: Palermo Day and Night—Italy
Located
on the northwest coast of the idyllic Sicilia Island, Palermo is described as
romantic, warm, Romanic, and lively. During the day, you will discover this
ancient city, founded almost 2,700 years ago. Yes, before Christianity, this
wonderful place was settled overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
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| Aerial View of Palermo |
There
are plenty of places and sites to visit. Likely,
you will run out of time before you run out of things to see and do. Layered
with history as well as modern attractions, Palermo is a vibrant city of nearly
one million inhabitants. It functions as both a living museum and a launch
point for exploring modern Italian culture.
For the historically minded,
tourist attractions in Palermo cover the Pre-Historic Era to the present day.
The Regional Archaeological Museum offers a survey of the island’s history,
while the festival events held throughout the year highlight the ways that
history is living and growing.
The macabre Catacombs of the
Cappuccini (Capuchin Catacombs) highlight the ways that
history can be captured and displayed.
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| Catacombs of Cappuccini |
The
Piazza Pretoria, also known as Square of Shame, is just a few
meters from the Quattro Canti, the exact center of the historic city of Palermo.
Since eighteenth century in 1860, the fountain was considered the representation
of corrupt municipalities and Palermo nicknamed the square, even for the nudity
of the statues, the square of Shame.
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house and opera
company dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II. It is the biggest in Italy;
actually, one of the largest of Europe (the third after the Opéra National de
Paris and the K. K. Hof-Opernhaus in Vienna), renowned for its perfect
acoustics.
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| Piazza Pretoria |
Considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Palermo Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Palermo. As an architectural complex, it is characterized by the
presence of different styles, due to a long history of additions, alterations
and restorations, the last of which occurred in the 18th century.
From the Vucciria to the
Borgo Vecchio, bargain hunters and antique junkies will be in a heaven lined
with rows of vendors with some of the world’s best street foods. Naturally, all
of the independent shops are supplemented by boutique zones with Italy’s top
fashion houses also open for business.
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| The Palermo Cathedral |
Doing things far exceed the
hours of the day in Palermo. Whether you choose to come in the peak season in
the summer or the quieter season in the winter months, you will find a city
that is always on the move. Developing, innovating, and growing, Palermo
cherishes its past and opens its arms to you.
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| Street Groceries of Palermo |
A Night of
Dancing
Dancing the night away is
particularly popular in the summer months, when the tourist crowds swell the
ranks of the night owls and open air dance floors are everywhere. You can check
out some of the most popular Palermo clubs at
- Candelai, considered the main dance spot, Via Candelai 65
- Tonnara Florio, Discesa Tonnara 4
- Kursaal Kalesa Club, Foro Umberto 21A
- Country Club, at Via della Olimpo, has a large open air dance floor in the summer months.
A Night of
Drinking
Palermo bars are an entirely
different category from its restaurants. Italians take their aperetivos
(appetizer drinks) and evening cocktails seriously, and the science of mixology
is an advanced art in Palermo. You can find a number of different drinking
scenes in the city. They include
- Au Domino, one of Palermo’s original pubs at the Via Principe di Belmonte
- The American Bar, a rooftop affair with views over the city on the Grande Albergo Sole, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 291
- Bottiglieria Del Massimo, a wine bar just steps from the Teatro Massimo with outdoor seating at Via Spinuzza 59
- Bar Fiera Vecchia, known for its inventive cocktail blends, Piazza della Rivolunzino
A Night of
People
Of course, with everyone
running around to enjoy the nightlife, don’t forget to enjoy the more relaxing
version of Palermo nightlife-the people watching. Gather with friends for a
drink or a late night coffee at one of the cafes and watch the crowds flow as
everyone tries to see and be seen. Good watching and gathering spots are
- Piazza Olivella, which is popular with younger nightowls
- Borgo Vecchio, near the market stalls between Piazzas Sturzo and Ucciardone
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