Cheap Hotels Palermo
What to see by foot: Palermo
    
The best way to see Palermo, particularly the old city, is on foot. The old city
contains more than 500 palaces, churches, convents and monasteries. If you start
at the Quattro Canti and head towards the sea along Corso Vittorio Emmanuele,
you'll soon arrive at the elegant piazza Marina, flanked on one side by the old
harbour, called La Cala, and on the other by the pleasant Giardino Garibaldi.
This area is one of the oldest parts of the city. Known as La Kalsa, from the
Arabic 'khalisa', meaning 'pure', it was badly damaged during bombing in the
WWII and much of it still bears the scars. From here, there are many hidden
delights to discover. The real fun of exploring La Kalsa is in not knowing what
the next corner will bring - perhaps an elaborate Baroque church, such as St
Teresa alla Kalsa, or snatched glances through half-open doors of crumbling
Arab-inspired courtyards.
You'll find the smartest shops and boutiques around the viale della Liberta
and the via Maqueda. However, the city's many street markets are a part of Palermitian
life which shouldn't be missed.
One of the most atmospheric is the La Vuccaria food market. Likened to the
souks of North Africa, La Vuccaria radiates around the tiny streets surrounding
Piazza Caracciolo, along Via Cassari, and is piled high with local produce and
fish of every variety every day except Sunday until about 14:00.
Keep an eye out for Calabria Giuseppe and his stall at via Argenteria, selling
jars of his special Pesto Palermitiano - an explosive mix of spices, extra virgin
olive oil, raisins, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts. A stroll around the Ballaro
food market is also a rewarding experience.
Visit Palermo's shady Botanical Gardens, just outside the old city walls. Part
of Palermo University, the gardens contain a variety of plants and trees, including
a massive ficus magnoliodes and a bamboo grove. The gardens are open daily from
09:00 to 18:00, and on Sunday from 08:30 to 13:30; the entrance fee is €3.30.
Continue your walk at the Villa Giulia, which was laid out in the 18th century
and contains marble statues and lawns. It is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00
and admission is free.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Cristal Palace | | Holiday Inn Palermo | |
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full list of hotels and online booking
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