Palermo: An Introduction to the Sicily You Don’t Know

What do you know about Palermo -the capital of Sicily?? I’m guessing if you’re a seasoned traveler to Italy like I am, you probably know a little but not a lot. I’ve often felt that Palermo is often overshadowed by other Italian cities and even not traveled as much to Sicilian cities such as Taormina or Catania. But there is so much to see and do in Palermo that it’s a pity people miss visiting the Sicilian capital! That’s why VisitPalermo –a company owned by Sicilians comes into play! Maurizio Giambalvo, the Founder and Owner of the Company, aims to promote tourism in the region of Sicily through Visit Palermo. And now here’s an introduction to the Sicily you don’t know.

Visit Palermo: Cathedral of Palermo

Visit Palermo constitutes a fantastically professional team who are super passionate about their region and culture. Maurizio’s Company offers day tours, airport transfers, cooking courses, workshops, cultural visits, adventure activities and much more! If you book through them you are in the best of hands! To be honest, they gave me a big push for my trip to Sicily! Had it not been for them, I wouldn’t have made the effort of visiting Sicily at all. A big thanks to them!

The Premises of Visit Palermo

Palermo- the Sicily you don’t know

Ruled by the Normans, Romans, Byzantines, Spanish and the Arabs, Palermo has had its fair share of history. A city like no other, Palermo has unique architecture which is part Gothic, baroque and part Arabic and Norman that simply leaves you in awe! I found Palermo to be very much like India – chaotic and beautiful at the same time especially because it is also very raw.

Palermo has a subtropical temperature so when I visited in April the temperatures hovered around 15-18°C. The city is surrounded by the mountains and only a stone’s throw away is the sparkling water of Tyrrhenian Sea! The city has such panoramic views that its a shame that few travelers visit here!

The food is exceptional and by food I specifically mean the street food! I wrote all about it here.

Where to Stay in Palermo

Palermo has hundreds of options for staying but I’d recommend staying in the city centre. Visit Palermo offered me a gorgeous an apartment which was a mere 7 minute walking distance from some of the main sights of Piazza Politeama and Teatro Massimo. My duplex apartment had a kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a balcony. It was quite huge for me to be honest but the five nights I spent in Palermo were five nights of pure comfort and bliss! To know more about the stay options in Palermo visit here.

Visit Palermo

Visit Palermo: Piazza Politeama

Visit Palermo: Teatro Massimo

Visit Palermo

Visit Palermo: A shrine on the street

Visit Palermo: Ape’

Visit Palermo: Local vendors, much like India

Visit Palermo: A view from La Rinascente

Final Thoughts on Palermo

Palermo is a unique city that needs to be seen! …..it is everything you don’t imagine an Italian city to be. It is crazy, beautiful, wounded, colorful and magnificent. It is the Sicily you don’t know! Make a visit and don’t forget to contact Visit Palermo for all your needs. I took my Sicilian trip in April 2016 (post updated in 2020).

Further Reading on Palermo and Sicily:

Sicilian Mafia

Palermo, The City of Kings

Midnight in Sicily

Crime Fiction by Andrea Camilleri

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