A pearl, a melting pot of civilizations of the past, the center of the Mediterranean Sea. Palermo has been for centuries the capital of the maritime trade and port for the peoples of the lands bordering the "mare nostrum". Conquered the Phoenicians, was the main cities of Magna Grecia, Roman colony, Arabs and Normans and Spanish, and the Swabian and Angevin.
All Palermo exudes richness of cultures, red domed churches from the Hermits of St. John Martorana, flaunt the manufacture of the nations of the East, the market is growing in the historic charm of Arabia, the architecture of the center tells the influences of different people, all equally captivated by the city "all port (Panormus).
Both those who attained the sea and those who stood to admire the mountains, enjoying the sparkling view of the Conca d'Oro, the valley planted with lemon and orange groves that, the sunlight shone like the most precious metal. Sicily and Palermo as its capital, it evokes purity of flavors, plenty of fruits of a rich and sunny for almost the entire year.
All in Palermo has its characteristic strong and rooted. Customs of its inhabitants, dialect as influenced by Arabic and Spanish to allow Palermo to feel more like the peoples of the east and some compatriots and foreigners understand the good with some even speak their own language. Palermo is famous for the mild climate, but also the pleasures of the palate. And if the gentle lord quashed and cannoli, ricotta is where Queen is part of the "salty" Palermo doc that has real rooted tradition of behavior. Take for example the "bread c'a meusa", ie the sandwich-cake filled with bovine spleen. A specialty of which are related rites and customs, as well as the bread fritter and crocchè, or so-called "stigghiola" entrails of lamb or beef roast often on street corners. Not to mention the arancine: a cult. Of course finding names for the culinary tradition of Palermo there are books enough.
To leave delighted visitors, contributing to the Art Nouveau buildings, monuments, villas, theaters. Teatro Massimo, the second to Europe after the Paris Opera, has returned to its former glory in 1997 after years of dormancy.
Walking through the historic city center is still recognizes the old road network within the walls of which are still preserved some of doors. One of two main streets, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, in the past called Cassaro, stands the imposing cathedral. On the outside of the city, now incorporated in the city center, the park of the Favorita, the ancient royal estate, now the city's green lung beyond which there is the seaside town of Palermo, Mondello.
