n 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica transformed into a mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. Construction continued for centuries, with each addition or renovation done in the style of the times. This building contains a solar observatory, built in 1690, which served to coordinaIf you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. And parts of Sicily haven’t yet been discovered by tourists. This article presents Sicily’s capital, Palermo. A companion article presents western Sicily. Another companion article presents eastern Sicily.

Palermo is Sicily’s capital and largest city with a population of about 700,000. It was founded in the Eighth Century B. C. by the Phoenicians who wanted to take advantage of its natural harbor. This strategically situated city was conquered again and again. For example, it was once a Muslim city with two or three hundred Mosques. The period of the Norman occupation starting in 1072 and lasting for well over one hundred years was considered Palermo’s golden age. The conquests continued almost unabated. Palermo was heavily destroyed during the Second World War. To some extent Palermo is still in the hands of a conqueror, the Mafia.

We’ll start our tour with the Cathedral, built in 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica transformed into a mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. Construction continued for centuries, with each addition or renovation done in the style of the times. This building contains a solar observatory, built in 1690, which served to coordina

t yet been discovered by tourists. This article presents Sicily’s capital, Palermo. A companion article presents western Sicily. Another companion article presents eastern Sicily.

Palermo is Sicily’s capital and largest city with a population of about 700,000. It was founded in the Eighth Century B. C. by the Phoenicians who wanted to take advantage of its natural harbor. This strategically situated city was conquered again and again. For example, it was once a Muslim city with two or three hundred Mosques. The period of the Norman occupation starting in 1072 and lasting for well over one hundred years was considered Palermo’s golden age. The conquests continued almost unabated. Palermo was heavily destroyed during the Second World War. To some extent Palermo is still in the hands of a conqueror, the Mafia.

We’ll start our tour with the Cathedral, built in 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica transformed into a mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. Construction continued for centuries, with each addition or renovation done in the style of the times. This building contains a solar observatory, built in 1690, which served to coordina

th Century B. C. by the Phoenicians who wanted to take advantage of its natural harbor. This strategically situated city was conquered again and again. For example, it was once a Muslim city with two or three hundred Mosques. The period of the Norman occupation starting in 1072 and lasting for well over one hundred years was considered Palermo’s golden age. The conquests continued almost unabated. Palermo was heavily destroyed during the Second World War. To some extent Palermo is still in the hands of a conqueror, the Mafia.

We’ll start our tour with the Cathedral, built in 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica transformed into a mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. Construction continued for centuries, with each addition or renovation done in the style of the times. This building contains a solar observatory, built in 1690, which served to coordina

r well over one hundred years was considered Palermo’s golden age. The conquests continued almost unabated. Palermo was heavily destroyed during the Second World War. To some extent Palermo is still in the hands of a conqueror, the Mafia.

We’ll start our tour with the Cathedral, built in 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica transformed into a mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. Construction continued for centuries, with each addition or renovation done in the style of the times. This building contains a solar observatory, built in 1690, which served to coordina

n 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica transformed into a mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. Construction continued for centuries, with each addition or renovation done in the style of the times. This building contains a solar observatory, built in 1690, which served to coordinate Palermo time with St. Peters in Rome, and to ascertain the correct day to celebrate Easter. As elsewhere in Sicily, lava was an occasional construction material.

Among the dozen or more historic churches worth visiting are San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi (St. John of Lebbrosi) dating from 1072, San Giovanni degli Eremiti (St. John the Hermit) whose style includes multiple Arabic influences, the Greek Orthodox church La Martorana also known as Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (Saint Mary of the Admiral), and San Cataldo (St. Cataldo), with its red Saracen domes. The latter two churches overlook the Piazza Bellini behind City Hall. The nuns of Martorana were famous for their fruit and vegetable shaped marzipan that they used to decorate barren fruit trees. While the convent no longer exists, this candy is still being made. But you won’t find it in trees. Talking about trees, many churches and other buildings are situated in or near beautiful parks.

Santa Maria dello Spasimo was built just over 500 years ago. It was honored by Raphael’s painting Sicilia’s Spasimo hanging in the Prado in Madrid, Spain. This church later was transformed into a hospital an