castle
Palazzo dei Normanni (Palatine Chapel)
The oldest royal residence in Europe, housing Palermo's Palatine Chapel with its extraordinary gold-ground Byzantine mosaics.
1 km · about 5 min drive
Sicily, Italy · Europe
Palermo is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Ciaculli, 46km from Targa Florio Circuit (Madonie).
Palermo is a city located in Sicily, Italy. With a population of 648,260, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Palermo sits in Italy, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Rome time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Palermo to your route.
The siege of Panormus or siege of Palermo took place in late 535 AD, where the Byzantine forces captured the city controlled by the Ostrogoths. It was the first engagement of the Gothic War (535–554).
Part of the Byzantine plan to reclaim the Italian Peninsula from Gothic control was to open with a sudden two-frontRead more
attack, one in Dalmatia and one in Sicily. The Byzantine general Belisarius arrived in Sicily and swiftly took control of major towns due to a lack of resistance. Panormus refused to surrender because the Gothic garrison had confidence in the strength of the city's fortifications. Belisarius laid siege to the city, but did not approach by land as the defenses were strong. Instead, he noticed that the masts overtopped the parapet, and this prompted Belisarius to send the fleet into the city harbor with small boats filled with archers, hoisted at the masts, which surpassed the height of the parapet. The Goths tried to protect the walls, but they had little protection against the archers, which led to their surrender. The fall of Palermo completed the conquest of Sicily.
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Palermo offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Palermo is located in Sicily, Italy, Europe. The coordinates are 38.1166 latitude, 13.3636 longitude.
Palermo has a population of approximately 648,260 people, making it a city in Italy.
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Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for Italy8 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
The oldest royal residence in Europe, housing Palermo's Palatine Chapel with its extraordinary gold-ground Byzantine mosaics.
1 km · about 5 min drive
cathedral
A Norman cathedral above Palermo blazing with golden Byzantine mosaics, among Europe's greatest.
7 km · about 15 min drive
famous road
The public mountain roads near Cerda in Sicily that hosted the world's oldest road race from 1906 to 1977; the old Floriopoli pits still stand and the 72 km Piccolo Circuito remains driveable today.
46 km · about 55 min drive
national park
Sicily's first nature reserve, a wild coastal path linking pebbly coves of crystal water near San Vito.
48 km · about 55 min drive
photogenic
Ancient tuna fishery on a cove guarded by faraglioni sea stacks and crumbling watchtowers, in use from the 13th century until the 1980s. The anchor-strewn terraces above gin-clear water are one of Sicily's most painted and filmed corners.
48 km · about 55 min drive
museum
Small museum in the Madonie hill town of Collesano honouring the Targa Florio, the world's oldest road race, run on these mountain roads from 1906. Photos, cars and memorabilia of racing legends.
55 km · about 65 min drive
beach
Arc of white sand and shallow turquoise water beneath the bare pyramid of Monte Monaco, at the end of a dead-end road past the Zingaro reserve. Hosts the Cous Cous Fest each September: a legacy of Sicily's Arab kitchen.
55 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
A charming Sicilian coastal town dominated by a massive rock promontory and a Norman cathedral with golden Byzantine mosaics.
58 km · about 65 min drive
April to October
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