10 places to see in Palermo and surrounding areas
1. Cattedrale of Palermo - the first of 10 places to see in Palermo
The Primatial Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Virgin Mary of the Assumption, known simply as the Duomo or Cathedral of Palermo, is the main Catholic place of worship in the city of Palermo and the archiepiscopal seat of the metropolitan archdiocese of the same name.
2. Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele of Palermo
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, better known as Teatro Massimo, in Palermo is the largest opera house in Italy, and one of the largest in Europe.
3. Royal Palace & Cappella Palatina
The royal imperial Palatine Chapel is a Sicilian-Norman style basilica, consecrated in 1140 by King Roger II of Sicily, and which is located within the architectural complex of Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo.
4. Monreale Cathedral
The cathedral of Monreale, also known as the cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova, is the main place of Catholic worship in Monreale, in the metropolitan city of Palermo, the archiepiscopal seat of the archdiocese of the same name.
5. Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (AKA Church of Martorana)
The church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, seat of the parish of San Nicolò dei Greci and known as Martorana, is located in the historic center of Palermo.
6. Pretoria Fountain
The Pretoria fountain was built in 1554 by Francesco Camilliani in Florence. Initially located in the garden of the Florentine palace of the brother of the Grand Duchess Eleonora of Toledo, in 1581 it was sold to the Palermo senate and moved to Piazza Pretoria in Palermo.
7. Quattro Canti
The Quattro Canti, or Piazza Villena, or Ottagono del Sole, or Teatro del Sole, is the name of an octagonal square at the intersection of the two main road axes of Palermo: Via Maqueda and the Cassaro, today Via Vittorio Emanuele, in the middle approximately their length.
8. Catacombs of Cappuccini
The Cappuccini convent in Palermo, in the Cuba district, is annexed to the church of Santa Maria della Pace.
9. Normanni Palace
The Normanni Palace, also known as the Royal Palace, is located in Palermo and is currently the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly.
10. Chinese building
The Casina Cinese of Palermo, commonly known as the Palazzina Cinese, is an ancient royal residence of the Bourbons of the Two Sicilies, located on the edge of the Favorita Park, on the edge of the Monte Pellegrino Reserve.
