Holiday apartment in Palermo – Discover Arab-Norman World Heritage

Palermo combines impressive evidence of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily with extensive green spaces and protected natural areas. Between churches, palaces, theatres, museums and promontories, a multifaceted picture of the Sicilian capital emerges, where history and landscape meet directly.

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 Itinerary Arab-Norman, 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. It is entirely decorated with golden mosaics by Byzantine masters; its dome contains a Christ Pantocrator. Palermo Cathedral was built in 1184 and preserves traces of the city’s successive rulers. It contains the silver reliquary urn with the mortal remains of Santa Rosalia, which were found on Monte Pellegrino on 15 July 1624.

The Palazzo Steri also leads back to Palermo’s medieval architectural history: Manfredi I of the Chiaramonte family had it built around 1320. The palazzo has a square floor plan with a two-storey arcaded courtyard and extends over three floors. The Sala Magna contains a painted wooden ceiling with scenes from the life of knights dating from 1377. Admission includes a 40-minute guided 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. Today, the monumental complex is a public municipal exhibition venue and has been open to visitors since 1995. The Capuchin Catacombs offer a different perspective on Palermitan society: they illustrate the customs, practices and traditions of urban society in Palermo from the 17th to the 19th century. The Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum displays a collection of Sicilian Pupi as well as marionettes and hand puppets from around the world; this collection is recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Nature and landscape

The Botanical Garden of the University of Palermo was founded in 1789, covers around 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. Its collections are arranged, among other systems, according to the scientific systems of Linnaeus and Engler, and are organised into 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 importance. The protected area includes the distinctive Monte Pellegrino promontory, which reaches a height of 609 metres. In the nature reserve, visitors should follow the marked paths and observe the instructions on the information and warning signs.

Other extensive open spaces shape Palermo: Foro Italico, also known as Passeggiata della Marina, is a large green area along Palermo’s waterfront and extends through the Kalsa district from La 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. Parco della Favorita, also known as Real Tenuta della Favorita, is Palermo’s largest green area, covering 400 hectares, and lies at the foot of Monte Pellegrino.

In the Capo Gallo Nature Reserve, rare and endemic plant and animal species are protected, as are carbonate geomorphological formations on Monte Gallo and a coastal vermetid pavement. The range of protected landscapes therefore extends from urban biodiversity to distinctive geological formations in the coastal area.

Theatre and museums

Teatro Massimo is an important centre for theatre production and performances and is distinguished by its monumental architectural character. Tours include the Main Hall, the Salon beside 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 according to the production currently running at the theatre. The tour at Teatro Massimo is accessible and includes 3D models of the rooms as well as tactile maps for blind and visually impaired visitors.

Getting there

For the connection between Palermo and Palermo Airport, also known as 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.

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