Italy > Sicily > Palermo
Palermo
N 38°6.624', E 13°21.998'
2015-11-21
http://www.visitpalermo.it
Our rating: 7.40
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Palermo is the capital of Sicily and the largest city. It's world famous as the capital of the mafia. However, right now on the streets you can find stores that advertise themselves by not paying the mafia.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Mafia still exists, for example a few years ago almost a hundred Mafiosi were arrested (link ). Despite many negative reviews, we liked Palermo, this is a normal tourist city. Generally, to get a good impression of any city, you need at first to see it from above. On the mountain Monte Pellegrino, you can see the castle Castello Utveggio. It is a research center, which is closed to the visitors. However, according to local media reports, since 2015 a park around the castle and an observation deck can be visited.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
There is a bus 812 (schedule ) from the Politeama theatre which goes to the top of the mountain. It has a stop near the turn to the castle and continues a little further to the religious place Santuario Montepellegrino. We decided not to wait for a bus, and took a taxi. Taxi drivers in Palermo are real mafia. Our driver wanted 40 EUR for 12 kilometers. We gave him 20 EUR which is also exorbitant. But the castle was closed! Most likely because we arrived on Saturday. Perhaps it only works on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:00, during working hours. But we're not upset, went back to the bus stop and then went uphill to the start of the "Trail". There begins the path to the radio tower, which offers excellent views of Palermo, especially at sunset.
Viewpoint on Monte Pellegrino ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Also, here are large cactuses and rabbits.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Attention! Do not wait till the dark, as there are no streetlights and you need to get to the bus stop. It is best to walk around Palermo at the weekend when downtown streets are pedestrian. We walked from the English Garden (Giardino Inglese) along the street Via della Libertà in the direction of Pretoria fountain.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo, English Garden ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo is quite beautiful and green city. There are many high-rise buildings, but absolutely all of them are different.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo has two historical theaters: Politeama (1874) and Massimo (1897).
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Piazza Vigliena (1600) is similar to the square of the four fountains in Rome. That's why locals name it Quattro Canti or Four Corners. On the ground floor of each house is a fountain symbolizing the season of the year, upper - the statues of kings and saints.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
A little further is the historical fountain Pretoria (1554-1555), with statues of mythological characters, animals and fantastic monsters.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
If you turn to the right from the Piazza Vigliena onto Via Vittorio Emanuele, then you get to the Palermo Cathedral (XII century - 1801). Its distinguishing feature are the many architectural styles. A little further is the main entrance to the historical part of the city - gate Porta Nuova (1669) and the Royal Palace (XI century).
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
To the left from the Piazza Vigliena will be a promenade with yachts. Unfortunately, a large part of the coastline is occupied by a port. It is seen from above.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Port makes a significant contribution to the city budget and therefore can not be removed. Although Palermo requires the good promenade.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
This funny thing called Nautoscopio (2009), during the warmer months it's a bar.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
We stayed at the Hotel Ambasciatori (booking.com ), it is located near the train station and has the best roof terrace in the city. Second sunset we met here.
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Palermo ©Yuriy Buriak
Transport map of Palermo (4Mb, PDF).Guide to Palermo (7Mb, PDF). Getting there: Palermo has an international airport. At the baggage claim area, you can buy bus tickets to the main train station in the center (~6 EUR).
Tags, Italy: city , observation deck Tags, all countries: city , observation deck
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.40
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help