AHhhhhh Palermo, interesting and so much to see also very crowded (it's 5th most populated in Italy). The city was founded in 734 BC by the Pheonician then Palermo became part of the Roman Republic, and eventually part of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand year then from 827-1071 it was under Arab rule. Following the Norman reconquest. Eventually it united with the Kingdom of Naples to form the Two Sicilies until the Italian unification of 1860. So Palermo is rich with history, from it's architecture to it's agriculture. The current name is derived from the Greek "Panoremus" meaning 'always fit for landing in'. Palermo was an important harbor.
From Trapani we took a bus(bus company Segesta) to Palermo about 1.5 hours ride.
time table on the bus stop
The ticket are not sold on board. Luckily the shop that does sell it just opposite the bus stop. Cost 9Euro / pax for one way
the view along the way was really beautiful
Palermo
the symbol of Sicily, Trinacria.
the 2 bent legs allegedly represent the 2 points of the triangular shape of the island of Sicily itself
to the hotel
our 2 stars hotel
the room was nice but the bathroom was slightly small and at night OMG the noise from the main road was unbearable. Our hotel cost 20Euro/ pax for one night (breakfast included)
after we checked in, we wasted no time to explore Palermo
this mini lorry is so cute
our 1st lunch in Palermo. Pasta!!!
The food was good, price was average (6-12Euro) and seat charge for each person was 2,50Euro. I didn't even order drinks thanks to that seat charge
as the restaurant was near to the main station, we saw a bus to Monreale, Though we planned to go there the next day but the bus drive said that there will not be any bus to Monreale on Sunday!! Since Monreale is a place not be be missed we hopped on the bus. Monreale is a very beautiful place. Will have a separate post on Monreale in my next entry. I took alot of photos of this place
on the was back from Monreale we stopped at Piazza Independenza
this is a good map of Palermo. Give a clear directions of all the places of interest.
Note: the map is not to promote the city sightseeing bus. I just find this map useful. I prefer to explore the city by foot
we are now near the Palazzo Reale o dei Normanni (or the Royal Palace of Palermo)
it's some sort of a gate way
details
Palazzo dei Normanni
the palazzo is quite big, many couldn't find the entrance, it's located on the south side, just opposite the Cappella Palatinate . Ticket prices (from Friday - Monday and Holidays) is 8.50Euro for adult and 6.50Euro for reduce ticket and (from Tuesday - Thursday if the Royal apartments aren't visitable) is slightly cheaper 7Euro for adult and 5Euro for reduce ticket
walking along via Vittorio Emanuele
Palermo Cathedral
details
the interior isn't much impressive than the exterior
marble details
love the ceiling
details of the column
beautiful
panorama view of the cathedral. It's really huge
alleyway in Palermo
via Vittorio Emanuele
Italian puppets
the crossroad near fontana Pretoria, Quattro Canto(the four corners)
it's really beautiful here, the details are amazing.
fontana Pretoria, was completed in 1555 during the Renaissance period by a Tuscan sculpture Francesco Camilliani
me and the Fontana Pretoria
this beautitul fountain was originally for a garden of a villa outside Florence. Lucky us it's here for the public to enjoy but too bad it's gated :S
just behind the fountain is the church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio or San Nicolo dei Greci or commonly called the Martorana, overlooking Piazza Bellini. Coincidentally there was a wedding in progress we didn't manage to visit the church. And the San Cataldo's church on the right, it's a notable example of Norman architecture
we stumble across a gay parade
it's quite a turn out
you definitely won't see this in Malaysia for sure
some hot police officers and swat team were there to make sure no hanky panky
to the Marina where it's more peaceful
and romantic??
it's really nice to relax here after a long day walk around the city, away from the hustle and bustle of the city
in the evening we had a light dinner at some fancy restaurant. The food was not what i expected for the price we are paying. And the seat charge was 3Euro / pax...it's crazy and the service sucks...
right after dinner on our way home we spotted a local night food kiosks, located just behind a church, don't know the name
it's just behind this church
many locals eat there. It's open only 3 days in a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
the 2nd important church after Palermo's cathedral, San Domenico Church built in 1458 - 1480
I can say that finally after hundreds of churchs, cathedrals and chapels, this is yet another ordinary baroque style church
random picture of sights of Palermo
after seeing a postcard of this mummified little girl ( Rosalia Lombardo),
i just realized that she is here in Palermo in Catacombe dei Cappuccini. I remember her from a documentary that i watched few years ago about how special she was and how she don't look like she has been dead since 1920,and is deteriorating and they made here a special container to save her from being like the other mummy all dry up.
check this out----> http://natgeotv.com.au/videos/curiosity-week%20/catacombs-of-palermo-38A43DC7.aspx
it's located not far away from the Piazza Indepenza along via Cappuccini.
we walked there but one can also take the bus #327
entrance fee to the catacombe in 3Euro/ adult
it's really spooky inside, photo are not allowed inside. I got this pic from National Geographic.
I saw Rosalia Lombardo, nicely preserved in a special metal glass box and about 8000 other mummies that line the walls. The galls are divided into categories: Men, Women, Virgins, Children, Priests, Monks and Professionals. This is the 1st ever catacomb I've ever visited that probably the last one too
tip: those with heart attacks, easily frighten, too old, too young probably should skip this place
after a heart pumping, blood freeze morning and legs shaking morning, time for more living activities, Search for food. We come across a Morning Market near to your hotel. Selling items from shoes, bags, kitchen wears to vegetables, fruits and variety of seafood
we had a nice seafood lunch. Thinking that a restaurant in the Market(Mercato Ballaro) would be cheaper but it's not and there is also seat charge. why am i not surprise
after lunch we continue the explore, the not so pretty side of Palermo,
San Giovanni degli Eremiti, a church showing elements of Byzantine, Arabic and Norman architecture
mobile bread kiosk. I really do think that Italy and Malaysia has a lot of similarity. In Malaysia we also have this Indian mobile bread seller
random Palermo buildings
two local delicacy that one must try are Deep fried ricotta and Arancini(price from 1.2Euro - 2.50Euro). It's really easy to find...they are everywhere
one thing about the walkway in Sicily that i noticed, they are really darn slippery!!! so be careful when you walk, WARNING >>>> don't run when the road is wet!!! i almost fell few times
main train station
The weather was so hot that we had to find a place for a nice cold dip in the sea. Palermo isn't really a place known for beaches but there is a town(can easily reach by bus) not far away from Palermo, called Mondello has a very beautiful white sandy beach with baby blue seawater. I will also write a separate entry for Mondello. It really worth the trip if one happen to be in Palermo and wants to escape the city and enjoy sun bathing by the beach
Politeama theatre in neoclassical style, the facade does look similar to Brandenburg gate, well a smaller version
taking the bus back from Mondello just before it gets dark
night view of some church
though Palermo is crowded, it's still pretty safe to roam around the city even in the evening. Overall Palermo is a city rich with history, culture, beautiful churches and friendly people. i'm not overly crazy about it but it does has a charm to it that makes it worth visiting.
Next destination, From Palermo we then travel to Syracuse stopping by Enna and Catania
~ ciao ~
