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Italy : Palermo - June 2010

Country Code: Dial for Italy

Getting around

Palermo International Airport

Bus: The Prestia e Comande bus service runs to and from Palermo. It takes about 50 minutes and tickets cost €5.
Train: A bus to the central station runs every half hour. Tickets cost €5.
Taxi: A taxi to the city centre costs about €40.
Tourist information: The main office is at 34 Piazza Castelnuovo (, palermo tourism.com).

QUATTRO CANTI

The traditional centre of Palermo is located at the intersection of Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda.

Sleep soundly – Housed in a liberty villa in the heart of town, Hotel Joli (11 Via Michele Amari, , hoteljoli.com, rooms from €74), is a convenient, friendly and elegant hotel.

Culture vultures – Near to the cross-section of the Quattro Canti you’ll find the small but lovely La Martorana church, with Byzantine mosaics inside. The 12th-century Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel (also known as the Royal Palace; Piazza Indipendenza) is a Norman-Arab and Byzantine treasure trove, and the Chapel is a masterpiece.

Must eat – La Cuba (Viale Fosco Scaduto, tel. ) is a wine bar, lounge, club and restaurant inside the splendid Villa Sperlinga, a liberty-style mansion with a wonderful garden. If you’re looking to make a base for the evening, this is the perfect place.

KALSA

The Kalsa district has more history than entire cities. Construction began in the 9th century and the area still has a distinctly Arab flavour, plus bags of medieval atmosphere.

Sleep soundly – Panormus Bed & Breakfast (72 via Roma, ; bbpanormus.com, doubles from €50) has simple yet lovely rooms.

Culture vultures – Dating from 12th century and built in Palermo’s distinctive Norman-Arab style, the Magione Church (Piazza Magione) is a true jewel. The Botanical Gardens (2B Via Lincoln) are the oldest in this part of Europe, and offer delightful shade on a hot day.

Must eat – An institution not to be missed, Antica Focacceria San Francesco (58 Via A Paternostro, tel. ) serves local dishes such as capaonato (aubergine stew), panelle (chickpea fritters) and arancine (stuffed rice balls).

MAQUEDA

Via Maqueda spans the historic centre and some of Palermo’s 19th-century parts, and includes the train station and one of Italy’s most famous opera houses.

Sleep soundly – Giorgio’s House (11 Via A Mongitore, , giorgioshouse.com, rooms from €27) is a small, clean guesthouse in an historic setting, plus it offers imaginative tours.

Culture vultures – The Teatro Massimo takes its acclaimed summer programme to the open-air Teatro di Verdura (Viale del Fante), which has over 2,000 seats.

LA VUCCIRIA

Come here to see a Sicily that’s little changed since medieval times.

Sleep soundly – The historic Grand Hotel et Des Palmes (398 Via Roma, , hotel-despalmes.it, rooms from €189) offers beautifully restored rooms with modern comforts.

Shop til you drop – The Vucciria market and its maze of small streets will transport you back to a forgotten era.

MONDELLO BEACH

Seven miles up the coast, the ‘Palermo people’s beach’ is just a bus ride away (take the number 806 from Viale delle Libertà). Liberty-style villas and soft sands make this an elegant retreat.

Sleep soundly – Located inside a lush private park, the Mondello Palace Hotel, (11 Via Teofilo Folengo, tel. , mondellopalacehotel.it, rooms from €139) boasts its own private beach, golf course and swimming pool.

Must eat – Feast on fresh and delicious local seafood, including sea urchins, at Nicolò (44 Piazza Mondello), with seating on the piazza for balmy evenings.

Compiled by Chicca Moretti