Back in April, Nik and I took a trip to Palermo, Sicily, an island located off the southern coast of Italy. The trip wasn’t on our travel agenda until late February, when some friends who also live in Nice invited us to join them. The timing was a little tricky since we’d leave Thursday and return Sunday, then head to Germany on Monday for a trip we’d already planned. We decided to go for it and we’re so glad we did. Between the history, sightseeing and food that the trip requires two blog posts! This is part one.
Getting to Sicily
The flight from Nice was pretty easy, and we kept costs down by flying EasyJet with only an under-the-seat bag. (Many of the budget airlines in Europe charge for an overhead bag!) It turns out we probably could’ve gotten away with bringing a larger bag since we ended up putting our small bags in the overhead bins anyway. Not one flight attendant questioned it. Our traveling party, which included our friends Derek, Jae, Karl, and Steve, flew on the same flight as us and we met everyone at the gate to board together.
About 90 minutes later, we landed in Palermo and met our car service van for the ride to Boutique BnB Dolcevita, our hotel near the harbor and a short distance from Old Town. All six of us stayed at the same place, which made meeting up and coming and going pretty convenient.
The hotel looked really great on the website when we booked, and it turned out to be fine in person. Like many hotels, it showed some wear and tear, especially in our bathroom. Otherwise, we had air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, a little view to the port and a lovely breakfast spread waiting for us each morning.
The building itself is pretty unique too. The owners saved it from demolition and refurbished it beautifully. The glass elevator in the middle of the building was a cool architectural touch, with the staircase curving around it.
Here is a series of pictures from the hotel’s instagram of before and after the work:
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Sightseeing in Palermo
Palermo is Sicily’s capital and a city full of history, culture, art and incredible food, with plenty to explore. The city also has a large architectural heritage including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. So many gorgeous buildings across the city.
Teatro Massimo
A short walk from our hotel took us to Via Maqueda, one of Palermo’s main streets, which leads to several major sights, including Teatro Massimo.
The theater opened in 1897 and is Europe’s third-largest opera house, after Paris and Vienna. It sits next to Piazza Verdi, which caught my attention because Verdi is also the name of a street in our Nice neighborhood.
As we continued down Via Maqueda, we came across the first of many carts selling just about any drink you could want. I especially loved this orange-shaped cart and our friend Karl snapped a picture of Nik and me ordering drinks.
I Quattro Canti
Further down Via Maqueda, you’ll come to I Quattro Canti (The Four Corners), one of Palermo’s most popular landmarks. The four buildings that outline the square were built between 1608 and 1620, while the sculptures and decorative elements were completed in 1663.
The third level of each building features statues of four Spanish rulers of Sicily, with their respective coats of arms above them along the roofline. At the fourth and top stories you’ll find statues of Palermo’s four female patron saints: Christina, Ninfa, Olivia and Agata.
Palermo Cathedral
Continuing our own walking tour of the city, we made our way to Palermo Cathedral, one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city. The cathedral dates back to 1185 and blends a mix of architectural styles, from Byzantine and Romanesque to Norman, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical.
My pictures don’t do justice to just how massive Palermo Cathedral really is. Every side offers a different view, showcasing the different architectural styles. The entire cathedral is absolutely stunning.
Heading inside, you pass through a gorgeous old arch and a set of wooden doors which you can see in the pictures below. So much incredible detail.
Once inside, I immediately noticed how bright and spacious the cathedral was. The columns and high ceilings were impressive, but what I really liked was how simple and elegant everything looked without being too over the top.
Other highlights inside the cathedral include the Chapel of Saint Rosalia dedicated to the patron saint of Palermo and the royal tombs.
According to tradition, her remains helped bring an end to a devastating plague in 1624 and the city has celebrated her ever since. The chapel houses her relics in an elaborate silver urn and she remains an important symbol of Palermo’s history and religious traditions.
Pictured above is the tomb of Frederick II who was King of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor, making him one of the most powerful figures of the Middle Ages.
We also happened to pass by the cathedral at dusk and it was just as stunning as it was during the day.
Church of San Cataldo
Really charming and unique in design is the Church of San Cataldo. Dating back to around 1160, the Church of San Cataldo is an example of Arab-Norman architecture, which flourished in Sicily during Norman rule. Its three distinctive red domes make the church one of Palermo’s most recognizable landmarks.
Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio
Right next to San Cataldo stands the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio. Dating back to 1143, the church features a Baroque facade and a bell tower.
Fontana Pretoria
Around the corner from those churches sits Fontana Pretoria or The Praetorian Fountain. It was originally built in 1544 in Florence, but was sold, transferred, and reassembled in Palermo in 1574. The dome in the background belongs to Santa Caterina, another of Palermo’s churches.
The fountain also sits outside of Palermo’s city hall.
Nik and I could easily have spent a few more days in Palermo, as we barely scratched the surface of everything there is to see. We didn’t have time to take in any rooftop or dome views, so I can only imagine how beautiful the city looks from above. Just another reason to return someday!
