Palermo Vacation Travel Video Guide (VIDEO)

Summary
Palermo, the capital of Sicily, Italy, is a lively city that blends the oriental splendor of the Norman court with the fragility of the last century. The city features several historic attractions, including the Palermo Cathedral, the Porta Nuova, the Palazzo dei Normanni, and the Capella Palatina, showcasing a fusion of various architectural styles.

Highlights
🏰 Palermo Cathedral, a massive building that combines different building styles, houses the emperor’s graves, including those of Emperor Friedrich II and Norman King Roger II, and features a neoclassical and baroque interior.
🚪 Porta Nuova, a noble gate, leads to the old town and commemorates Emperor Carl V’s successful campaign against the Moors. The gate’s facade is decorated with huge relief figures of the defeated Moors.
🏛️ Palazzo dei Normanni, built in the 9th century by the Arabs and later enlarged by the Normans, served as the island’s political center of power for several centuries and remains the seat of the Sicilian government and the region’s parliament today.
🕌 Capella Palatina, a tiny chapel within the Palazzo dei Normanni, is the most impressive example of Arabian Norman art, featuring shining mosaics on the walls and ceilings that depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
🌸 San Diego Church, formerly a Benedictine monastery, a mosque, and then transformed back into a church, features double pillars supporting pointed arches, an Arabian fountain, and a floral cloister built by King Roger II.
🌃 Palermo, once a trading harbor on the northern coast of Sicily, became a prosperous city when the Arabs conquered Sicily and transformed it into a fairy tale from the 1001 Knights. However, the golden age of Palermo ended when the kings of Aragon attained power, causing many of its buildings to perish.
🌴 Palermo, situated like a golden shell at the foot of Monte Pellegrino, is a lively city that has gradually improved its image and turned into one of the most lively cities in Italy.