Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

12  INTRODUCING SICIL Y

Two Days in Palermo collections of the Museo
Archeologico Regionale A.
Salinas (p60); don’t miss the
An exuberant melting pot of Pietra di Palermo. Walk down
East and West, once home Via Roma, browsing the shop
to the wealthiest court in windows, then cut through the
medieval Europe, Palermo’s Vucciria market (p60) and up
treasures include opulent Corso Vittorio Emanuale to
Arab-Norman mosaics, Piazza Marina (p54), where
Arabic cupolas, vibrant Palermitani gather to play
street markets and Sicily’s cards under immense liana-
finest collection of medieval hung ficus trees. If there’s time
and Renaissance art. before lunch, discover the art
of Sicilian puppetry nearby at
• Arriving From Punta Raisi
airport, buses (Prestia e The former mosque, San Giovanni degli the Museo Internazionale
delle Marionette (p54), or
Comandè) run into the city Eremiti, famed for its five domes
centre every 30 minutes, visit Palazzo Mirto (p55)
taking 45 minutes, stopping Afternoon Head up to Quattro for a chance to see inside an
outside Politeama theatre, Canti (p69), a monumental – 18th-century aristocratic palace
with its original furnishings.
Stazione Marittima and and heavily trafficked – cross-
Stazione Centrale. roads, to Piazza Bellini, home
to red-domed Arab-Norman Afternoon After lunch at Piazza
• Getting around Nerves of San Cataldo (p59) and the Marina, begin the afternoon
steel are required to drive in Benedictine convent of La visiting Palazzo Abatellis
Palermo; fortunately, all the Martorana (p58), with a (pp56–7) and its artistic
major attractions are within unique mosaic portrait of treasures. Move on to pretty
walking distance of each King Roger II. Cast an eye Arab-Norman La Magione
other. Delay renting a car over the contro versial statuary (p59), with its evocative
until you’re ready to move of Fontana Pretoria (p58), cloisters, and roofless Gothic
on from the capital; there are dubbed the “fountain of Santa Maria dello Spasimo
also excellent long-distance shame” when it was built for its (p59), often a venue for concerts
bus services to Sicily’s other over-abundance of sybaritic and exhibitions. Back on Via
main towns and resorts. nudes. Then head to Palermo’s Alloro, the chic Galleria d’Arte
Cathedral (pp70–71) where, after Moderna Sant’Anna (p59)
visiting its wonderful interior. displays 19th- and 20th-century
Day One you can take a tour of the roofs, Sicilian art and has a lovely café
Morning Begin with the which are open late at night in – or, one of Palermo’s best
formidable Palazzo dei the summer. restaurants (Osteria dei Vespri,
Normanni (p68), home under p211) is right across the street.
the Hohenstaufens to the most Day Two
splendid court in medieval Morning Start your day at To extend your trip…
Europe, with the magnificent Piazza Verde to take a look at Take a third day to relax on
jewel-box-like Cappella the mighty Teatro Massimo the beach at Mondello (p76),
Palatina (pp66–7) glinting with (p73), the largest opera house or explore the fabulous,
magnificent mosaics at its heart. in Italy; half-hour tours of the mosaic-filled Cathedral of
Walk down to San Giovanni lavish interior start at 9:30am. Or, Monreale (pp80–81).
degli Eremiti (p68), its five Arab if you prefer, begin at the fine
domes witness to its past life as
a mosque, then zigzag through
the narrow streets of the
Albergheria quarter to see the
exotic majolica-tiled dome of
the Chiesa del Carmine (p73)
and the mighty Baroque façade
of the Chiesa del Gesù (p72),
which appeared in the film
version of one of Sicily’s greatest
novels, Giuseppe di Lampedusa’s
The Leopard (Il Gattopardo).
Explore the ebullient Ballarò
street market nearby, sampling
traditional hot panelle (chickpea
fritters) and a freshly baked
cannoli (sweet pastry) for lunch. One of the façades of the Quattro Canti, Palermo’s most fashionable square
For practical information on travelling around Italy, see pp242–3

010-015_EW_Sicily.indd 12 11/3/16 2:09 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Country itinerary map template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.1)
Date 21st March 2014
Size 125mm x 217mm