About Palermo

About Palermo


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Each city in Italy is unique in its own way. Some cities offer holidays on the sea coast. Others lure tourists with famous historical, cultural and architectural sights. Still others are famous for their unique wine or cheese. But what to do if you want everything at once? There is only one answer - go to Palermo!





Palermo is a city of contrast. One street is a noisy open-air bazaar, another street sparkles with the lights of fashionable hotels and windows of luxury boutiques. If you can find harmony with the unceasing energy of the city, with complete disregard for the rules of the road and general chaos, you will leave your heart here.





Unlike other famous cities in Italy, Palermo seems to be hiding its sights. Behind the shabby facade of the palace there may be glittering gold interiors. Get ready for the discoveries. I counted a few dozen Palazzo! You will be impressed by the unusual style of the royal palace and the main cathedral. The architectural styles of the buildings mixed the architectural styles of Byzantium, Arabs and Normans ... You will be able to see the very staircase from the final scene of the film "The Godfather".





Palermo was both the Arab Emirate and part of the Norman kingdom. In the 12th century, Palermo became the greatest city in Europe. Then the fame of the city faded. Palermo was badly damaged during the bombing of the Second World War. Almost the entire Old Town was turned into ruins that existed until the end of the 20th century. The center of Palermo in some places was a real slum.





Political scandals and the power of the mafia clans controlling the city are not the best ads for the capital of Sicily. True, the mafia is now completely different from what it used to be - it loves tourists and protects them, since they are now the main source of income for the city and the whole island. Personally, I did not feel the presence of the Mafia. It may well be that the mafia did not notice my presence either.





What can I say about the kitchen. Many. And nothing. I do not have that kind of talent. You can talk endlessly about the restaurants of Palermo. I'm sure you, my reader, could write a book on this topic.





The best I've seen in Palermo are people. The most diverse and unique.





Souvenir Dealers





Musicians

and chestnut sellers





tourists





and just passers-by





and people asking for alms





and bored housewives

I love you people!





Although I'm not sure that this is mutual))))