Car Hire Palermo

Mini guide to Palermo

The spectacularly located Sicilian city of Palermo, situated on its own bay at the foot of the towering Monte Pellegrino, captivates visitors with its stunning scenery, convenient location and superb architectural heritage, making it Sicily’s most popular tourist destination.

The highlights of the ancient town’s historic buildings are the magnificent Cathedral, the ornate Royal Palace and Cappella Palatina chapel, the Arabic-Norman churches of La Martorana and San Giovanni degli Eremeti, and the contrasting Baroque churches of San Giuseppe dei Teatini and Santa Caterina. A common feature of all the buildings is their exquisite mosaic work, which alone is reason to visit this amazing city.

Palermo also boasts three acclaimed museums, housing excellent collections of art, archeology and ethnography. Spend a pleasant morning or afternoon wandering the maze of narrow streets and lanes of the old town centre. For more relaxation and recreation, head for the beautiful Mondello beach or climb to the top of Monte Pellegrino for some incredible panoramas of the coastline and hinterland.

As Sicily’s main tourist town, Palermo has ample first-class accommodation and dozens of quality restaurants. The nightlife is vibrant and fast-paced, with a variety of cafes, bars, pubs and clubs catering to all tastes.

For more magnificent architecture, a day trip can easily be arranged to the famous medieval Norman cathedral of Monreale. Alternatively, take a ferry ride out to the intriguing little volcanic island of Ustica, with its picturesque grottoes and coastline.

Palermo can be reached via connections from Rome International Airport, and transportation options into the city are numerous and reliable. There are also charter flights from European cities.