University of Palermo

About Palermo, Guide and Top Tourist Attractions
(Palermo, Italy)

Palermo is the capital of the Italian province of Palermo. With a history spanning almost 3,000 years, it is a city rich in culture and tradition. Phoenician traders established the city of Palermo in the 8th century as a trading and market hub. Today, it is a thriving city with a population of almost 700,000.

What to do in Palermo

Visitors who arrive in the city in July can experience the Festino, the festival of the city's patron saint Santa Rosalia on July 14. Santa Rosalia is believed to have protected the city from the Black Death in the 17th century. Visitors can also make a pilgrimage to her shrine in Monte Pellegrino where her bones are interred.

When it is game season, sports fans can catch a game of the local football team that plays in the Italian Serie A.

Tourist Attractions

The Museo Archeologico Regionale, Cathedral of Palermo, and Teatro Massimo are three of the must-see tourist attractions in Palermo.

The Cathedral of Palermo is arguably the city's most popular attraction. It was originally built in the early seventh century but was destroyed when the Saracens conquered the city. It was replaced with a mosque that was also subsequently destroyed. It was then replaced with the present cathedral that stands there today.

The Museo Archeologico Regionale is one of Italy's largest museums. It contains an impressive collection of Etruscan, Phoenician, and Carthaginian artifacts. Guided tours are held in the museum daily.

Built in 1897, the Teatro Massimo is a popular destination for lovers of opera. The theatre remained closed for almost 30 years while it was being refurbished, but it was reopened in time for its centenary. The Teatro Massimo has played host to the performances of famous sopranos such as Enrico Caruso.