Palermo

Palermo

Being over 2,700 years old, this is a city with a history. I was a bit worried about going into Palermo. Too many tour books had reports on street crime. Well, it took some pressure from Karen, but we went to Palermo and enjoyed every minute. I actually drove through the city in search of a hotel. Once found, the car was parked and it was feet on the ground.

I had heard the stories about how Palermo was still a bombed out city from the War. Not so, yes it was bombed in the Second World War. And yes, there are some areas in Palermo that have not been rebuilt. But don't go these expecting to see a ruined city.

The Cathedral of Palermo is a very architectually complex building. There is a variety of styles of architecture that result from many years of additions and restorations. Built in 1185, additions were added over the course of many centuries.

An interesting feature is the heliometer. This is a (solar observatory built in 1690. Sunlight flows through a small hole in a domes, creating a spot on the floor at solar noon. la Meridiana, a bronz line, on the floo, marks the summer and winter solstices.

San Giovanni degli Eremiti dates from the 6th Century. It was restored in 1880. The pink domes show the Islamic influence. More information on the Travels to Cloisters Site.

There are a number of markets in Palemo and to walk the narrow streets with the tents and the crowds is the best way to get the Palermo Feel!

 

Not far from the Martorana Church and Quattro Canti is the Ballarò market. This market goes from the Piazza Ballarò in the Albergheria district (near the church of San Nicolò) along Via Ballarò past Piazza Carmine toward Corso Tukory, roughly parallel to Via Maqueda toward the main train station.

The Capo Market is located behind the Teatro Massimo, and it fruns from the Via Porta Carini off Via Volturno near the old city wall toward Piazza Beati Paoli. Parts of this market include much more than food.

Vucceria Market begins at Piazza San Domenico, off Via Roma and goes along parallel to Via Roma - although you can not see it from Via Roma towards Piazza Caracciolo and Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

The markets are typically open from 9 in the morning until 7 at night. On Wednesday they close early, around 2 PM. They are closed on Sundays.

I was on the search for some great pen stores. I found a number of great stores.

Be sure to visit La Martorana - there will most likely be a wedding going on as it is the place to have a wedding in Palermo. The architecture of this church is very impressive and somehow, despite the tourists walking through the church, there is a regular schedule of weddings that take place. Inside there are 12th century mosaics by Byzantine artists.