Palermo in 1 Day: all you need to know

If there is one thing Palermo is not lacking in charm, it is charm. This southern Italian city is known both for its busy, bustling life and for its stylistic variety, a consequence of all the peoples that have passed through it, including Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Spaniards.

When one thinks of Palermo, its fame inevitably leads one to imagine a decadent and noisy place, where natural disasters and mafia crimes have taken their toll. However, none of this has managed to take away from the overwhelming personality and incredible appeal of this city, where there is no shortage of interesting things to see and do and delicious local cuisine to enjoy.

One of the advantages of visiting Palermo, especially if you have limited time, is that the distances within its historic centre are quite manageable on foot, so with this tour you won't need to take any means of transport and you can enjoy getting lost in the labyrinthine streets that make up the centre of this lively city.

However, if you prefer to be guided by an expert, you can always take a tour of Palermo and get to know the history of the capital of Sicily in depth.

The first point on the tour I have prepared for you is the traditional Ballarò Market, one of the oldest and most authentic markets in Palermo. From early in the morning, this place is full of locals and tourists alike, who mingle amidst the hustle and bustle and the explosion of colours of the products on offer.

In addition to fruit and vegetables, this chaotic but charming market offers a wide range of other items such as souvenirs, clothes and even household goods.

Next, I am going to ask you to take a short walk from Via Ballarò, where the market is located, to the imposing Palazzo dei Normanni, also known as the Norman Palace, which is considered to be the most important sight in the city.

The Palazzo dei Normanni

The Palazzo dei Norman ni is one of the most important monuments in Palermo and nowadays it is the seat of the Regional Assembly of Sicily. However, its origins date back to 1130 and it has the honour of being the oldest royal residence in Europe.

One of the most important characteristics of the palazzo is the cultural and stylistic mix of its architecture, which is due to the fact that Byzantine, Norman and even Arab artists were involved in its construction and subsequent interventions.

Some of the most outstanding rooms of this impressive construction are the Sala dei Venti, admired for its delicate mosaics, and the Sala di Ruggero II, which served as a bedroom for his majesty.

The Cappella Palatina

However, the Cappella Palatina is considered the star attraction of the Palazzo. Located on the first floor, this beautiful chapel is dedicated to St. Peter and its fame is due to the magnificent golden mosaics that decorate the room and depict scenes from the Old Testament and its Christ Pantocrator.

In addition, a curiosity of this chapel is that in its decoration you can see how elements of Islamic and Byzantine art merge.

• Where: Piazza del Parlamento, 1, 90129 Palermo.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and from 8.30am to 12.30pm. It is recommended to check the official website before visiting, as the opening hours are subject to change and not all areas of the palazzo are always available for entry.
• Price: The price of a ticket with full access to all areas of the palazzo is between approximately €15 and €19, depending on the dates.

After the visit to the illustrious Palazzo dei Normanni, your next stop on the way will be another of the city's most representative monuments, the Palermo Cathedral.

Just a few metres from the palazzo is the imposing cathedral, which was built in the 12th century and is particularly striking for its large dimensions and original Arab-Norman architectural style.

The spectacular temple has undergone numerous alterations throughout its life, which has led to elements from different periods and styles coexisting in the same building, such as the interior of the cathedral, which was renovated in the 18th century.

The Cathedral of Palermo is part of the group of monuments that make up the Arab-Norman Circuit of Sicily and has even been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

A visit to the crypt and the royal tombs, where the remains of King Ruggero II and a splendid collection of royal jewels rest, are particularly worthwhile. However, access to both the dome and the tombs requires a separate entrance ticket.

• Where: Via Vittorio Emanuele, 90134 Palermo.
• Opening hours: The cathedral is open from Monday to Sunday from 9.30am to 6pm. However, the entrance hours to the crypt and other parts of the cathedral may be different and are subject to change, so it is recommended to check the official website before visiting.
• Price: Entrance to the cathedral is free, however, you must pay to enter other areas of the temple such as the tombs or the terrace. Entrance fees start at €1.5, depending on the type of visit you decide to make.

Once you have visited Palermo's two most representative buildings, I encourage you to take a stroll through the charming historic centre of the city. In particular, I recommend that you walk along the small stretch that connects the cathedral with the famous Quattro Canti crossroads, which you can reach along Via Vittorio Emanuele.

If you prefer, you also have the option of hiring a sightseeing bus tour of Palermo that will take you through the most emblematic places of the city.

Via Vittorio Emanuele is one of the main streets of Palermo and runs through its historic centre. Here you will find cafes, bookshops, shops and you will even pass by the façade of Palazzo Riso, which houses the Palermo Museum of Contemporary Art and the Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini.

If you are travelling to Palermo in summer, you can try the famous Italian ice cream at one of the gelaterias in the area. If you follow this street, when you reach the intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele you will find yourself in one of the most famous and admired places in Palermo, Quattro Canti.

The four concave façades that form this crossroads have a very special beauty. Each has a fountain symbolising the four seasons of the year and at the top of each fountain are the four viceroys of Sicily and the patron saints of the city.

Just a few metres from the Quattro Canti is the emblematic Piazza Pretoria, known mainly for the Fontana della Vergogna, which translates as "fountain of shame" and is a gigantic marble construction whose figures represent gods, nymphs and tritons dancing on the water totally or partially naked.

The nickname "fountain of shame" is due to the modesty felt by society when faced with the nudity of the monumental Renaissance fountain.

Another feature that has made this beautiful square one of the most important in the city is that it is surrounded by some of Palermo's most representative buildings, such as the Palazzo Bonocore, the Palazzo Pretorio, which is the seat of the town hall, and the Santa Caterina d'Alessandria Church.

Italian gastronomy is undoubtedly one of the most admired and its most emblematic dishes such as pasta, pizza or focaccias are known and enjoyed in almost every part of the world. However, Sicilian cuisine is one of the most different and varied in Italy, partly due to its cultural mix and its proximity to the sea.

When lunchtime approaches, I recommend that you head to Via Maqueda, as in this area of the city you will find a large number of bars and restaurants of all prices where you can enjoy the traditional cuisine of Sicily.

Some of the most typical dishes are pasta con le sarde, a recipe that combines pasta with seafood typical of Palermo, or caponata, a delicious aubergine stew.

Of course, you will find a wide variety of pasta and seafood dishes. However, if there is one thing you can't leave without trying, it is the famous Sicilian cannoli, which is a tube of fried dough filled with ricotta cream, although there are some variations such as those filled with chocolate or pistachios.

Another fantastic option if you want to get to know the city's cuisine in depth is to book a gastronomic tour of Palermo.

At the end of Via Maqueda, in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, stands the magnificent Teatro Massimo, which has the honour of being the largest lyric theatre in Italy and the third largest in Europe.

Built in the 19th century by Giambattista Filippo Basile, this majestic building has a neoclassical façade guarded by two large bronze lions.

Inside, the Teatro Massimo seats up to 3,200 spectators and hosts major opera and ballet performances. In addition, this building is known for being the stage where the final scenes of the famous film The Godfather III were filmed.

If you want to visit the inside of the theatre you have two options. The first is to buy a ticket for one of the shows held there and the second is to buy a ticket for a guided tour.

• Where: Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, 90138 Palermo.
• Opening times: you can consult the performance calendar on the official website of the Teatro Massimo. The opening hours for guided tours are Monday to Sunday from 9.30am to 5.30pm and you can buy your ticket from the same website.
• Price: the price of a ticket with guided tour is approximately €10.

Unlike most markets, the Vucciria Market comes alive in the late afternoon, as the Vucciria neighbourhood has become one of the trendiest and liveliest areas to go out for a drink or dinner.

There, you can find a large number of stalls and places to try Palermo's famous street food, as well as numerous restaurants with terraces.

As well as strolling through its busy streets and enjoying the atmosphere, you can take the opportunity to relax with a beer or try one of Palermo's most famous street foods, the arancini. This dish consists of a ball of rice stuffed with different ingredients such as ragù, mozzarella or ham, among many others, and finally fried in plenty of oil.

A very interesting alternative for getting to know the city's markets and tasting Sicilian gastronomy would be to hire a guided tour of the local market with a gastronomic experience, in which in addition to being guided by an expert, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive cooking demonstration and taste traditional food at the home of a local.

If you still have room in your stomach and want to treat yourself, I recommend you head to Osteria Ballarò for dinner. Although this restaurant has a somewhat high price, the quality of its products makes it well worth it.

The restaurant is located inside the former stables of the Palazzo Cattolica and its menu features typical Sicilian dishes with a creative touch, always prepared with local and seasonal products. You can also enjoy a wide variety of top quality wines.

• Where: Via Calascibetta, 25, 90133 Palermo.
• Opening hours: every day from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
• Price: the average price per person would be around €25 - €40 approximately.

Although not among the most visited cities in Italy, Palermo has a lot to offer. Its wide range of culture, interesting architecture and lively atmosphere make it a fantastic holiday destination, but is one day in Palermo enough to enjoy the charms of this chaotic city?

If you don't have much time and just want to visit the highlights of Palermo the answer is yes, it is possible to do it in one day. The short distances between the main monuments in the historic centre of this city make it possible to visit its most emblematic places in a short period of time.

However, if you want to get to know the capital of Sicily in depth and you have the opportunity to extend your trip, I recommend that you spend at least 3 days in Palermo, as this way you will be able to get to know the city perfectly and in a more relaxed way.

If time permits, you can even book a day trip from Palermo to see other parts of Sicily.