Palermo: places, stories and flavours
What to see, what people did here for a living, what ends up on the table — and the people born here.
What to see
cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel)
The Palatine Chapel /ˈpælətaɪn ˈtʃæpəl/ is the royal chapel of the Norman Palace in Palermo, Sicily. This building is a mixture of Byzantine, Norman, and Fatimi…
cattedrale di Palermo (Palermo Cathedral)
Palermo Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palermo, located in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy. It is dedicated to the Assum…
chiesa della Martorana (Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio)
The Church of St. Mary of the Admiral, also called Martorana, is the seat of the Parish of San Nicolò dei Greci, overlooking the Piazza Bellini, next to the Nor…
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house and opera company located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel…
La Zisa (Zisa Palace)
The Zisa is a grand 12th-century Norman hunting lodge and summer palace in the western area of Palermo, in the region of Sicily, Italy. The edifice was started …
chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti (Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti)
San Giovanni degli Eremiti is an ancient former monastic church located on Via Benedettini #19 in the ancient quarter of Albergaria of the city of Palermo, regi…
Palazzo Abatellis
Palazzo Abatellis is a palazzo in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy, located in the Kalsa quarter. It is home to the Galleria Regionale della Sicilia, the Gallery…
chiesa di Santa Caterina (Santa Caterina, Palermo)
Santa Caterina d'Alessandria or Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Roman Catholic church with a main facade on Piazza Bellini, and a lateral Western facade faci…
Palazzo dei Normanni
The Palazzo dei Normanni, also called Royal Palace of Palermo, is a palace in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. It was the seat of the Kings of Sicily with the Hauteville…
chiesa di San Nicolò da Tolentino (San Nicolò da Tolentino)
San Nicola da Tolentino, or more in non-dialect known as the church Saint Niccolò da Tolentino, is a Roman Catholic church located on via Maqueda #157, between …
Porta Nuova
Porta Nuova is a monumental city gate of Palermo. It represents the entrance of the Cassaro from Corso Calatafimi and is located beside Palazzo dei Normanni, ro…
chiesa di Sant'Anna la Misericordia (Sant'Anna la Misericordia)
The Church of Saint Anne the Mercy is a Baroque church of Palermo. It is located in the area of the ancient market of Lattarini, in the quarter of the Kalsa, wi…
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Recognised local products
On the table
marzapane (marzipan)
Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal, sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract. Variants can be made from other nuts, or…
Gelo di melone
Gelo di melone, also known as gelo d'anguria, is a Sicilian jelly dessert consisting of a watermelon pudding served throughout summer. Traditionally prepared on…
Cannolo palermitano (Cannolo of Palermo)
Cassata siciliana
Cassata or cassata siciliana is an Italian cake originating in the Sicily region. It is typically composed of a round sponge cake moistened with fruit juices or…
Cuccìa
Cuccìa is a primarily Sicilian dish containing boiled wheatberries and sugar, which is eaten on December 13, the feast day of Saint Lucy, the patron saint of Sy…
Frutti di Martorana
Frutta martorana is a Sicilian marzipan sweet in the form of fruits and vegetables from the provinces of Palermo and Trapani.
Buccellato
A buccellato is a Sicilian circular cake filled with figs and nuts. In Sicily, it is traditionally associated with Christmas. It is not to be confused with the …
Pupi di zucchero
Les poupées de sucre sont des friandises traditionnelles en sucre, obtenues par moulage puis colorées à la main. Les modèles creux répandus en Sicile (Italie) p…
Sfincia di San Giuseppe (Sfinci di San Giuseppe)
Sfincia di San Giuseppe is a Sicilian pastry dessert, traditionally prepared for the day of Saint Joseph. It is recognised as a prodotto agroalimentare tradizio…
Old trades
Il puparo (Opera dei Pupi)
The Opera dei Pupi is a marionette theatrical representation of Frankish romantic poems traditionally performed in Sicily, Italy.
Le monache pasticcere (Frutti di Martorana PAT)
Frutta martorana is a Sicilian marzipan sweet in the form of fruits and vegetables from the provinces of Palermo and Trapani.
L'arte dei dolci conventuali (Cassata siciliana PAT)
Cassata or cassata siciliana is an Italian cake originating in the Sicily region. It is typically composed of a round sponge cake moistened with fruit juices or…
Il cantastorie (cantastorie)
Cantastoria comes from Italian for "story-singer" and is known by many other names around the world. It is a theatrical form where a performer tells or sings a …
Il carrettiere e il pittore di carretti (Sicilian cart)
The Sicilian cart or carretto is an ornate, colorful style of horse-drawn cart native to the island of Sicily, Italy, which has become a cultural emblem for the…
L'acquaiolo
L'acquaiolo era in passato un venditore ambulante di acqua da bere. Attualmente il mestiere non è più praticato, con qualche eccezione in alcuni luoghi.
Born here
Alessandro Scarlatti
Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti was an Italian Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important r…
Giovanni Falcone
Giovanni Falcone was an Italian judge and prosecuting magistrate. From his office in the Palace of Justice in Palermo, Sicily, he spent most of his professional…
Paolo Borsellino
Paolo Emanuele Borsellino was an Italian judge and prosecuting magistrate. From his office in the Palace of Justice in Palermo, Sicily, he spent most of his pro…
Ernesto Basile
Ernesto Basile was an Italian architect and an exponent of modernisme and Liberty style, the Italian variant of Art Nouveau. His style was known for its eclecti…
Santa Rosalia (Saint Rosalia)
Rosalia, nicknamed la Santuzza was a virgin and hermit on Monte Pellegrino. She is venerated as the patron saint of Palermo in Italy, Camargo in Chihuahua, and …
Giuseppe Pitrè
Giuseppe Pitrè was an Italian folklorist, medical doctor, professor, and senator for Sicily. As a folklorist he is credited with extending the concept of folklo…
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Giuseppe Tomasi, 11th Prince of Lampedusa, 12th Duke of Palma, GE, known as Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, was a Sicilian writer, as well as the last generation …
Giacomo Serpotta
Giacomo Serpotta was an Italian sculptor, active in a Rococo style and mainly working in stucco.
Giuni Russo
Giuseppa Romeo, known professionally as Giuni Russo, was an Italian singer who specialised in experimental music after a short successful stint as an art-pop si…
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Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Texts and photos: Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA. Map tiles: OpenStreetMap.