A major cultural city in Sicily with a lot to see and experience, Palermo is also a big port and airport hub. Two good airports are located nearby. Punta Raisi Falcone e Borsellino (PMO) is the city’s international airport and a bus that runs every half an hour and costs 6.30 euros connects it to the city. This trip takes about 30 minutes. Trapani Birgi (TPS) is 49 miles away from Palermo and it is another option, good for flying on low cost airlines. The trip from Palermo to Trapani takes two hours and costs 9 euro for one way or 14.50 euros round trip. For bus schedule see the website: www.interbus.it
Visiting Sicily, Palermo can be your starting and ending point due to its easy access. Catania would be another great option, as far as airports go. Many buses cover entire the distance along the coast, as well as inland between these two main cities.
Palermo has many palaces, churches, museums, gardens and theaters to visit. Worth mentioning is the Marionettes Museum, another Sicilian tradition, as well as the unique Cappuccini (or Capuchin) Catacomb.
The Botanical Garden is part of Palermo University. In its large park an amazing number of plants from all over the world are cared for. The beautiful buildings within were designed by French and Italian architects.
Located next door to the botanical gardens is a free city park, and close by it a board walk going towards the picturesque Port of Palermo.
Teatro Massimo and Teatro Politeama Garibaldi are both impressive buildings and home to many spectacles delighting locals as well as visitors of this great city. With luck and enough time here, a special performance could enrich the visit.
Walking the streets of Palermo one is delighted by the architecture and life of this city. Outside markets color the streets while large and impressive structures dot the area.
Almost fifty statues of white carrara marble are part of the Pretoria Fountain. Located by the city hall, this is another picturesque attraction, in a city where arts and architecture are abundant. The work of Florentine sculptors for a villa that, in the end could not afford it, the fountain ended up in Sicily and locals here either either hate it or love it. The piazza got the double name of “Piazza of Shame” as the Sicilians are more conservative than the Florentines.
The Palermo Cathedral is another impressive building and the many architectural styles that are part of it are not a surprise. Sicily is an island which was dominated throughout history by many different dynasties and imperiums, holding different cultural and religious beliefs.
