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Albergheria
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Small darling of tourists, the Albergheria district is probably the oldest in Palermo. Born on a territory once rich in water, crossed by the ancient river Kemonia, this small perimeter has seen successive peoples, each making it its center of power.
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Chiesa del Santissimo Salvatore
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With such a name, the church Santissimo Salvatore evokes all the Italian majesty.A true jewel of the Sicilian Baroque, it was built in 1682 on the site of a monastery of the Benedictine Sisters, founded in the 11th century.
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Welcome to the heart of Palermo! Here you are in Piazza Vigliena, but everyone calls it the Quattro Canti, literally the “four corners” – and not the “four songs”, as sometimes mistranslated.
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Here we are in the heart of the historic centre of Palermo, in Piazza Pretoria. It is not so much for the palaces and churches that surround it that it is known, but for the monumental fountain that sits in its center.
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Chiesa di San Domenico
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Welcome to Piazza San Domenico, one of the most emblematic squares in Palermo, open to the great Via Roma. Its history dates back to the 18th century, when Sicily was under Austrian rule: at that time, the square, then called Piazza Imperiale, was redeveloped.
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It’s hard to visit Palermo without taking a tour of Il Capo, one of the most lively and picturesque areas in the historic centre. Located on the old bed of the Papireto River, now filled, the area has developed around its Point of Sale, active since the 17th century and still today one of the most popular in the city.
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Italy, the birthplace of opera and land of commedia dell’arte, has a taste for theatre. They can be found everywhere, in large cities as well as in smaller ones. In Palermo, there are about ten, but none of them can match the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele. Its construction began in 1875, at the initiative of the then mayor, who wanted to offer
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If you are curious by nature, the Palermo Regional Archaeological Museum is a must-see. Housed in the former Convent of Oliva since 1866, it houses one of the richest Archaeological Collections in Italy, tracing the history of Sicily from prehistory to Roman times.
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Oratorio del Santissimo Rosario in San Domenico
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Right next to the church of San Domenico lies a small baroque jewel: the Oratorio del Rosario. Founded in 1578 by the Compagnia del Santissimo Rosario, it was embellished a century later by the great sculptor Giacomo Serpotta, true master of stucco.
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Welcome to La Loggia, one of the oldest and most authentic districts in Palermo. Located between the port and the Vucciria Point of Sale, it has always been a place of passage and exchange. From the Middle Ages, Italian and foreign merchants settled there: its name comes from an ancient loggia
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Giardino Garibaldi
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In Palermo, green spaces are scarce, but Piazza Marina is home to one of the most pleasant: Giardino Garibaldi. Created in the 19th century by the architect Basil, this garden mixes romance and a little wild charm.
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With its sober and elegant appearance, the Abatellis Palace does not always notice at first glance. Built at the end of the 15th century in Catalan Gothic style, it was the private residence of Francesco Abatellis, high dignitary of Palermo.
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Foro Italico
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The Foro Italico is this great seaside promenade where Palermo residents come to get some fresh air, read a book or simply enjoy the view of the blue horizon. A daily luxury that actually goes back centuries.
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Villa Giulia
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Villa Giulia is one of the most beautiful green escapes in Palermo. Created in 1775 in a neoclassical style, this public garden is named after Giulia Guevara, wife of Viceroy Marcantonio Colonna. Free and romantic, it is a haven of peace where majestic palm trees, centuries-old trees and fragrant orange trees mix.
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La Kalsa
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La Kalsa is one of the oldest and most fascinating areas of Palermo. Born under Arab rule, it was the seat of emirs and government in the 9th century. Its name comes from the Arabic al-Khāliṣa, which means “the pure” or “the chosen one”.
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Among the 80 churches and chapels of Palermo, the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi deserves a special stop. Built in the 13th century, in the Kalsa district, it stands out for its Gothic style, far from the baroque that dominates so many buildings in the city. Many consider it the most beautiful Gothic church in Palermo.
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Palazzo Valguarnera-Gangi
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In Palermo, there are palaces around every corner, but few impresse more than Palazzo Gangi. Built in the 17th century for the Valguarnera family and then passed on to the princes of Gangi, this aristocratic palace hides behind its rather discreet Sicilian baroque façade nearly 8,000 m2 of lavish living rooms, decorated in a lavish Rococo style.
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Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (St. Mary of the Admiral)
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The Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, also known as the Church of Martorana, is one of the most beautiful gems of Palermo. Built in the 12th century by George of Antioch, admiral of Roger II, it was designed according to a Byzantine plan in cross, facing east.
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You are now in front of the church of San Cataldo, one of the symbols of Palermo. Built in the 12th century by Maione de Bari, Grand Admiral of King William I of Sicily, it was given in 1182 to the Benedictines of Monreale who transformed it into a hospice.
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The Gesù church, built in 1564, is the very first place of worship built by the Jesuits in Palermo. Seriously damaged during the Second World War, it has undergone several restorations, which today allow it to shine again and welcome its faithful.
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Mercato di Ballaro
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If you continue straight down Piazza Ballarò street, which opens to your right, a little further down, you will come across one of Palermo’s most vibrant and colourful markets: Mercato Ballarò. Here it is a true festival of sounds, smells and colors.
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It’s impossible to visit Palermo without visiting the Palais des Normans, a veritable digest of Sicily’s multicultural history. Built on a strategic height of the city, this iconic monument bears the traces of more than two millennia of conquest and transformation.
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Everywhere in Italy, cathedrals are crossed, but the one in Palermo has something unique. Located near Via Matteo Bonello, it stands out for its fortress-like appearance and its Arab-Norman style, inherited from a turbulent history.
