Cheap Palermo Hotels
What to see by car: Palermo
    
There are so many delightful villages and attractions within driving distance
of Palermo that you are almost spoilt for choice. Solunto is located about 16kms
east on the slopes of Mount Catalfamo, overlooking the sea. It was originally
a Phoenician village (founded in 700 BC) until it was taken over by Greeks, and
then Romans, before being abandoned in the 3rd century AD.
The ruins of this town were discovered in the 16th century. A wide main street,
the Greek agora (marketplace), fragments of columns, a small theatre, and several
mosaics and wall paintings have since been uncovered. There is also a small
archaeological museum nearby that features many of the site's archaeological
finds.
Located on the slopes of Mount Caputo, about 6.4kms outside Palermo, the town
of Monreale is most famous for its magnificent cathedral, which is a Romanesque
structure with a mixture of Arab, Byzantine and Norman artistic styles.
Externally, the structure is not particularly impressive, but inside you'll
be greeted with over 6,340 square metres of mosaics - one of the world's largest
displays of mosaics. There are 130 mosaic scenes depicting Biblical events,
usually accompanied with Latin or Greek inscriptions. In all of Sicily, this
is the one place you should not miss.
About a 45-minute drive away from Palermo sits the medieval town of Cefalú,
the location of the ancient Greek Temple of Diana. Situated on a mountain overlooking
the town, it is said to be one of the oldest structures on the island.
Here you can also visit a Norman hilltop fortress which affords a tremendous
view over the town, countryside and the sea. In town, you'll find a medieval
washhouse, the Osterio Magno (once home to Roger II), and the impressive Romanesque
cathedral, begun in the 12th century by Roger II.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Cristal Palace | | Holiday Inn Palermo | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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