Palermo: UNESCO Culture and Nature Around the City

Culture and History

Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale form a serial World Heritage site comprising nine civil and religious buildings from the period of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily between 1130 and 1194. The components of the UNESCO World Heritage site Arab-Norman Palermo in Palermo include the Royal Palace and the Cappella Palatina, the Palazzo della Zisa, Palermo Cathedral, San Giovanni degli Eremiti, Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, San Cataldo and the Ponte dell’Ammiraglio. Palermo Cathedral is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Arab-Norman Itinerary, together with the Cappella Palatina, the Royal Palace, San Giovanni degli Eremiti, Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, San Cataldo and the Ponte dell’Ammiraglio in Palermo.

The Cappella Palatina is located on the first floor of the Palazzo dei Normanni and was built between 1130 and 1132 during the reign of Roger II. Its interior is composed entirely of golden mosaics by Byzantine masters; a Christ Pantocrator is depicted in the dome. Palermo Cathedral was built in 1184 and preserves traces of the city’s successive rulers. It houses the silver reliquary urn containing the mortal remains of Santa Rosalia, which were found on Monte Pellegrino on 15 July 1624.

The Palazzo Steri was built around 1320 by Manfredi I of the Chiaramonte family. The building has a square floor plan, a two-storey arcaded courtyard and three floors. The Sala Magna retains a painted wooden ceiling with scenes from chivalric life dating from 1377. Admission includes a 40-minute accompanied tour; a one-hour guided visit can be requested by reservation. Santa Maria dello Spasimo was built by the Olivetan fathers at the beginning of the 16th century. The monumental complex is a public municipal exhibition venue and has been open to visitors since 1995.

The Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo illustrate the customs, practices and traditions of Palermo’s urban society from the 17th to the 19th century.

Nature and Landscape

The Botanical Garden of the University of Palermo was founded in 1789, covers 10 hectares and cultivates around 6,000 plant species. It serves as an open-air museum, has been active for more than 200 years and is home to numerous tropical and subtropical plant species. The collections are arranged, among other systems, according to the scientific systems of Linnaeus and Engler; they also include a palmetum and a cycadetum.

The Monte Pellegrino Nature Reserve protects biodiversity within the city of Palermo and covers an area of considerable geological, archaeological and landscape significance. The protected area includes the distinctive Monte Pellegrino promontory, which reaches a height of 609 metres. Visitors should follow the marked paths there and observe the instructions on the information and warning signs. The Capo Gallo Nature Reserve protects rare and endemic plant and animal species, as well as carbonate geomorphological formations on Monte Gallo and a coastal vermetid pavement.

The Foro Italico, also known as Passeggiata della Marina, is a large green area along Palermo’s waterfront promenade. It extends through the Kalsa district from the Cala to Villa Giulia. The Giardino della Zisa is located opposite the Palazzo della Zisa on the grounds of the former Genoard hunting park and covers 30,000 square metres. The Parco della Favorita, also known as the Real Tenuta della Favorita, is Palermo’s largest green area at 400 hectares and lies at the foot of Monte Pellegrino.

Theatres and Museums

The Teatro Massimo is an important centre for theatre production and performances and is distinguished by its monumental architectural character. Tours include the Grand Hall, the Salon at the Royal Box, the Pompeian Room, the Coat of Arms Room and the foyer. Backstage tours provide insights into the creation of an opera or ballet performance and vary depending on the production currently running at the theatre. The tour of the Teatro Massimo is accessible and includes 3D models of the rooms as well as tactile maps for blind and visually impaired visitors.

The Museo Internazionale delle Marionette Antonio Pasqualino displays a collection of Sicilian Pupi as well as marionettes and hand puppets from around the world, recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Thus, alongside the major buildings, the focus is also on a collection that preserves the tradition of puppetry in different forms.

Getting There

For the connection between Palermo and Palermo Airport, Falcone e Borsellino Airport, Trenitalia offers two trains per hour in each direction. The faster train reaches Palermo city centre in just over half an hour.

You can find other destinations in the regional context here: Polizzi Generosa, Castelbuono, Collesano, Petralia Sottana, Catania.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sicily.