THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF PALERMO
Yesterday I went on an unexpected trip to Palermo. I must say that events organized on a spur of a moment seem to always be the best…
Anyway, the city of Palermo is extremely beautiful with amazing architecture that captures your eye at every corner. And one day is definitely not enough to enjoy it all. But if you’re limited on time (as I was) there are two places you must see… One of them is the marvelous cathedral, which boasts a variety of styles of architecture from gothic to Byzantine inspired. The other is the Cappuccini Covenant hosting the mind-blowing underground catacombs. I must warn you though—prepare yourself for a bit of a shock when you enter. The catacombs are filled with 8,000 corpses displayed along the walls either standing up or lying down. The effect is one of a macabre. The dead are actually kind of mummies, with the skeletons still covered with skin, and in some cases even hair. If you faint-hearted though, you may want to skip this step in your sightseeing adventure.
Palermo has many places that will charm you with its astonishing buildings and many enchanting parks and fountains. And if you are interesting in shopping, it will not disappoint. There are many shops along the two main streets where you will find nearly everything you may think of, from shoes and clothes to souvenirs and jewelry. And when you tire and would like a moment to rest and enjoy a “granita” (a Sicilian specialty summer dessert), there are a number of bars along the beaten path and even more off it (probably a better choice to experience the real deal).
So if you ever in the area, go and see this fascinating city for yourself… I am quite sure you will not regret it… I know I didn’t and I’m already thinking about going back to Palermo and perhaps staying just a bit longer this time. And seeing it, I can absolutely understand why Goethe fell in love with it…
