Sicily has a lot to offer from the point of view of historical and artistic beauty, cuisine and folk traditions. Palermo, the capital, encloses all these aspects.
By staying at the B&B Atmosfere Puniche, located in the center of Palermo in an elegant historic building, you can discover Sicily: a journey to discover the beauties of Palermo.
Palermo
While staying at the B&B Atmosfere Puniche you can visit the Palazzo dei Normanni, which is known as the Royal Palace, and is the current seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. It is one of the oldest palaces in Europe as it was the residence of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Sicily, imperial seat with Frederick II and the historic Sicilian Parliament.
Cathedral of Palermo
Proceeding in the visit to the city you come across the imposing Cathedral of Palermo. Apart from being the main place of worship of the city, it is also the bishop’s seat, a real admirable example of the influence of various peoples who have crossed through Palermo. It is no coincidence that the Cathedral contains all styles of architecture: Byzantine, Roman, Norman, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical and its beauty lies in this.
Next to the Cathedral, another important place of worship and art in the city is the Cathedral of Monreale. A true masterpiece of Byzantine art, with its internationally famous mosaics and 1800 kg of pure gold to tell the stories of Christianity. It can be considered one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Since July 2015 it has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Palermo Arab-Norman circuit.
Castello della Zisa, Palermo
When visiting Palermo, you can’t help but visit the Castello della Zisa. The imposing building has Norman origins, its name comes from Al-Aziz which in Arabic means glorious. Its construction was completed by William II in 1175. Originally the summer residence of the sovereign, it is worth visiting because of its Islamic influences due to its arches, muqarnas and particular vaulted niches.
The visit to the enchanting city of Palermo, can not be considered complete without seeing Piazza Pretoria, also called Piazza della Vergogna, characterized by the presence of a fountain decorated with nude statues. Many people believe that this name derives precisely from the presence of these statues, but wants to refer to the excessive expense incurred to achieve it.
