Overlooking the sparkling Gulf of Palermo, Igiea Terrazza Bar brings together Mediterranean light, 1950s frescoes and timeless elegance. Come for a signature cocktail and contemporary Sicilian flavours at aperitivo, then stay as the atmosphere shifts to the rhythm of the night.
La Vuccirìa is an ancient market and neighbourhood in Palermo’s central Castellammare quarter, a maze of pedestrian alleys and small piazzas centred on Piazza Garraffello and Piazza Caracciolo. Despite its dilapidated buildings and graffiti, the clamour of hawkers, food stalls and late-opening bars gives the area a distinctive, enduring vitality.
Founded in 1975 by the Association for the Conservation of Popular Traditions, the Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum houses more than 5,000 marionettes, hand puppets, shadow puppets and stage machines from around the world. It preserves the largest and most complete collection of Palermo, Catania and Neapolitan pupi, while serving as a centre for safeguarding and sharing the theatrical heritage of Sicily and other puppet traditions.
MEC Restaurant, awarded one MICHELIN Star, occupies the renovated, high-tech setting of Palazzo Castrone, an illustrious late-sixteenth-century palazzo in Palermo’s historic centre, a stone’s throw from the Arab-Norman Cathedral. Chef Carmelo Trentacosti, a disciple of Nino Graziano, creates refined dishes with restrained flavours that reveal the scents and tastes of his native land.
Cristal Hotel Palermo occupies a central position on Via Roma, within easy walking distance of Teatro Massimo, Palermo’s historic centre, restaurants, cafés and shops. Its modern interiors include a lobby for arrivals, informal meetings and relaxing between excursions, while the friendly, helpful staff are often appreciated for their local recommendations and assistance with transport.
Located in the heart of Palermo, the establishment occupies the old Palazzo Tarallo building keeping the original structure and becoming a special pace with vintage frescos and furniture. Furthermore, the hotel is part of the Arab-Norman route, declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Hotel Politeama is a historic four-star hotel in the heart of Palermo, a few steps from the historic centre and surrounded by streets of luxury shopping, business and nightlife. Its modern, renovated setting combines elegance and comfort with a welcoming family atmosphere, making it well suited to both leisure and business stays.
Palazzo Sovrana is a historic residence transformed into luxury serviced apartments, directly opposite Palermo’s Teatro Massimo. Its spacious, modern accommodation retains the character of the building, while helpful staff, concierge-style hospitality and views of the theatre combine apartment independence with contemporary comfort in the heart of the city.
Hotel NH Palermo is a four-star waterfront hotel in the Kalsa district, with lush gardens, an outdoor pool and views across the Gulf of Palermo or the city’s botanical gardens. Its quieter setting, within walking distance of Palermo’s historic centre and seafront, appeals to both leisure and business travellers.
The Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo’s former royal residence and one of Sicily’s most important historic monuments, stands at the heart of the city beside the Palatine Chapel. Part of Palermo’s UNESCO-recognised Arab-Norman heritage, it encompasses royal apartments, gardens and Punic Walls, while the 12th-century chapel is celebrated for its Byzantine mosaics, Islamic-influenced wooden ceiling and iconic golden Christ Pantocrator.