Cities
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- 1 Palermo — has a thousand years of history, beautiful Arab-Norman architecture, amazing food, and lively neighbourhoods
- 2 Carini — has a medieval Norman castle, many defensive towers, and lots of shopping
- 3 Castelbuono — a very pleasing town near Cefalù which is the self proclaimed capital of the madonie national park.
- 4 Cefalù — Sicily's main beach resort, with an attractive old town
- 5 Corleone — town, birthplace of Mafia boss Salvatore Riina and the Cosa Nostra
- 6 Monreale — Impressive Norman cathedral above Palermo, offering great mosaics
- 7 Petralia Sottana — a town within the Madonie Natural Regional Park
- 8 Pollina — a well-preserved hilltop village with amphitheatre and great views of the coast
Other destinations
[edit]- 1 Madonie Regional Natural Park — it some of the highest mountains in Sicily
- 2 Himera (Imera) — Greek colony, founded in 648.BC on the north coast
- 3 Solunto — Punic ruins near Santa Flavia, Palermo
- 4 Ustica — diving centre near Palermo
Understand
[edit]The coastal region around Palermo was already settled in ancient times, as evidenced by the archaeological sites of Himera and Soluntum. The rise of the port city of Palermo as the seat of the Emir under the Arabs continued with the Norman conquest, and even in the Middle Ages, Palermo retained its importance as an important trading and cultural centre. The hinterland of the province is comparatively sparsely populated, and its scenic beauty has allowed large areas to be protected as nature parks.
The Metropolitan City of Palermo replaced the former Province of Palermo on 1 January 2015.
Climate
[edit]Sicily has an arid Mediterranean climate. In the winter months, it rarely snows, with peak temperatures of 5-8 °C. In the summer, temperatures can reach 30-40 °C, making the midday heat in the city almost unbearable. During siesta, most shops are closed and residents stay in their cool houses. In the evening, people gather again on the Corso when the temperatures are more pleasant. The ideal time to visit is late spring or autumn, when the sea is still warm enough for swimming.
Get in
[edit]The international Palermo Punta Raisi Airport (IATA: PO) is served by numerous European airlines, and several charter flights bring visitors to Sicily.
From the ferry port of Palermo there are ferry connections from Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples and also Sardinia and Tunisia. Further ferry connections are available to the smaller and quieter ferry port of Termini Imerese rrom Salerno, Civitavecchia and Livorno.
Palermo is served by the Trenitalia railway lines from Messina with the branch line via Roccapalumba in the south from Agrigento and Caltanissetta and from Trapani in the west with a branch line from Alcamo to the south towards Mazara del Vallo and Marsala.
Several motorways branch off from Palermo: the westbound motorway, which becomes a toll road at the Buonfornello junction towards Messina, continues towards Enna - Catania. To the west towards Trapani, the motorway goes past the Palermo international airport; at Alcamo the motorway branches off into the motorway to Trapani and the motorway to Mazara del Vallo and Marsala on the south coast. The Settentrionale Sicula Messina - Cefalù country road continues through Palermo to Trapani. The motorways to Menfi and Sciacca lead through the hilly hinterland, the winding one to Corleone and finally to Agrigento, and the motorway to Enna and Catania.
Get around
[edit]The easiest way to get around the province is with your own car, scooter, or rental car, although Palermo's somewhat turbulent Sicilian city traffic may not be to everyone's taste. Once you've left the hustle and bustle of the city center behind, driving is quite problem-free with a bit of attention.
See
[edit]In addition to the old town of Palermo with its cathedral, churches and palazzi, the Norman Duomo of Monreale and that of the port town of Cefalù are definitely worth seeing.
Do
[edit]In addition to visiting the region's cultural heritage, you can swim on the partly rocky, partly sandy northern coast (avoid the industrial areas between Palermo and Termini Imerese due to the water quality) and go hiking in the nature parks.
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Stay safe
[edit]In the large city of Palermo, petty crime is an issue. The usual safety instructions should be observed (wallet should not be half-sticking out of the back pocket, handbags and camera bags should remain in sight, and no valuables should be left openly in the vehicle). The influence of organised crime is not noticeable to tourists.
Go next
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