Both turbulent and exquisite, Italy’s fifth largest city is an alluring mix of beauty and decay. A smoggy, gritty metropolis with over 1,000,000 inhabitants, Palermo’s (pa-LEHR-mo) pace of life dispels any myth of sleepy Sicily; its racing stream of cars, buses, and scooters set the city’s breakneck pace. Those who opt to slow down will be rewarded by Palermo’s impressive sights and relics. While poverty, bombings, and centuries of neglect have taken their toll on Palermo, the city is slowly experiencing a revival. The 1993 election of an anti-Mafia mayor brought a temporary end to the Mob’s knee-bashing control, and with political reform underway, Palermo is now left at peace, to work on restoring its many architectural treasures.
Flights: Falcone Borsellino Airport (☎ 091 70 20 111), at Punta Raisi, 30min. from central Palermo. Prestia & Comande (☎ 091 58 04 57) runs buses every 30min. from P. Castelnuovo (45min.) and Stazione ...more
Palermo’s newer half follows a grid, but older sections near the train station form a tangled knot. The station dominates Piazza Giulio Cesare, from which two streets define Palermo’s central ...more
Public Transportation: AMAT city buses. Main terminal in front of Stazione Centrale, under a green awning. Tickets €1.10 per 90 min., €3.50 per day. Buy tickets from tabaccherie, or ticket ...more
Tourist Office: P. Castelnuovo 34, at the west end of the piazza (☎ 091 60 58 351; www.palermotourism.com). Maps, informative brochures, and Agenda, a seasonal info packet. Open M-F 8:30am-2pm and 2 ...more
When it comes to finding a place to stay, Palermo is pricey. For the sake of comfort and, more importantly, safety, plan on spending a little more in Palermo. Hotel Regina, V. V. Emanuele 316 (☎ ...more
The best restaurants in town are between Teatro Massimo and the Politeama. Palermo’s three bustling food markets provide fresher and more interesting selections than most supermarkets. Ballarò ...more
Ancient glory, centuries of neglect, and heavy bombing during WWII have made Palermo a city of deteriorated splendor, where ancient and modern ruins stand side-by-side. For much of the 20th century ...more
Palermo’s nightlife is as varied as the city’s history. For info on cultural events, pick up Un Mese a Palermo , available at any APT office and in News-News. Piazza Olivella, Via dei Candelai ...more
Mondello Lido is a beach for tourists by day and a playground of clubs and bars by night. All registered hotels provide tickets that must be shown at the entrance. Otherwise, beachgoers pay €8 ...more
Accessible by ferry or hydrofoil from Palermo. L’Agenzia Miletello, V. Capitano Vincenzo di Bartolo 15, next to Chiesa S. Fernando Re, is open daily 6:10-6:45am, 9am-1pm and 3:30-6pm (☎ 091 ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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Palermo