The Normans built the eclectic cathedral and the most original achievement of the Arabo-Norman Art, the Palatine Chapel, set as the most shining of jewels among the ancient walls of the Royal Palace.
Piazza Pretoria
The town hall square came to be called shame square by Palermitans because of the many nude statues that adorn the fountain at its centre. Sculpted entirely from white Carrara marble, the fountain is a magnificent example of the Tuscan Renaissance artistry.
Quattro Canti
Villena Square, the Theater of the Sun, or quite simply the Quattro Canti ( Four Corners), is the heart of the city. This scenic square is considered one of the masterpieces of baroque architecture of the entire region. Completed in 1600, it divides the old city into four quadrants.
Teatro Massimo
A grandiose symbol of the Belle Epoque, the Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy. Built when Palermo was at the height of its splendor and selected Art Nouveau to exhibit the luster and shine of the entrepreneurial bourgeoisie of the time.
Chinese Palace
To brighten his exile at the start of the 19th century, Ferdinand I had the eccentric Chinese Palace built in the private hunting reserve called the Parco della Favorita. A passion for Chinese art spread throughout Europe at the end of the 18th and start of the 19th century.
