Discover the city: the best sites in Palermo

Large, old and crowded, Palermo is a city for all tastes, even though the traffic, poverty and decay replaced the baroque grandeur of yore. At the same time, it is one of the most fascinating and joyful cities of Italy, still wearing his conquerors mark: Arabs, Normans and Spaniards.

The monuments that stand testimony to the bygone glory rise in overcrowded city and offer a dramatic contrast between past and present. Sightseeing in Palermo can offer to the attentive traveler some really unexpected surprises. Here are our 5 reasons to visit this strange city that will make your holiday unique and worthy.

Palazzo dei Normanii or Palazzo Reale rises on the ninth century Saracen fortress, a construction that the Normans extended and converted into a complex palace , which has become one of the most prominent royal courts of Europe.

Piazza Pretoria, a circle of medieval and Renaissance buildings built around a fountain from the sixteenth century called Fountain of Shame because of the sensual nudes that surround it.

The Capuchin Catacombs are the strangest places in Palermo and must be visited. The occupants of the catacombs are exposed depending on the job they were executing while being alive. Guides will recount the secrets the special burial methods of the Capuchin monks.

The Cathedral of Monreale is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. It is a monument dedicated to the Arab, Normand and Byzantine art and architecture. Its inside resembles a huge, shiny jewelry box decorated with gold leaf while the courtyard is made up of approximately 228 twin columns, inlaid with colored marble pieces.