Palermo

Italy

Things to do in Palermo:

View the Gallery Harbour

Palermo Restaurants

Cheap (28)

Trattoria da Tot�

Open for over 80 years in the Vucciuria, many an entertainer has been known to dine here while on theatre tours, feasting on the home-style cuisine. read more
Affordable (35)

Trattoria ai Cascinari

This welcoming eatery keeps locals coming back for more, thanks to a menu boasting such staples as stuffed artichokes and ravioli with sardines. read more
Good quality (31)

Il Bellotero

In a 19th-century building, Il Bellotero serves time-tested recipes that keep its patrons happy, such as the lobster pappardelle. There's a formidable wine list, too, and service that rises to the... read more

Palermo Nightlife

Chilled (20)

Grand Hotel Sole

Visit this rooftop bar at the Four Corners for pre- or post-dinner drinks - and the most breathtaking views over the city. read more
Live Music (14)

Basilic�

Adjacent to the university campus, come here to catch live rock music from local bands. The venue is popular with students looking for a distraction from essays and exams. read more
Clubbing (16)

Reloj

This old cinema is the current see-and-be-seen place in Palermo. Eat, drink and listen to live music, or just people-watch the night away. read more

This Month in Palermo (March):

By Conchita Vecchio

Shopping: Muschio & Miele is the go-to shop for eclectic, cutting-edge designer fashions and accessories (17B Via Torrearsa).

Sightseeing: Camera Sullo Sguardo, a photographic retrospective spanning the last 50 years, showcases the work of some of Italy's most innovative photographers. Catch it until 21 March (Palazzo Sant'Elia, 81 Via Maqueda).

Key areas: After a hectic week, a big Sunday brunch is in order. Head to La Cuba, in the luxurious Villa Sperlinga neighbourhood, to unwind in the relaxing, greenhouse-like atmosphere (Via Francesco Scaduto, tel: 091 309 201, lacuba.com).

Day trips: The sleepy fishing village of Cefal�, an hour east of Palermo, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Sicily. With its narrow, winding roads, stunning views of the sea, and imposing Norman cathedral built by Roger II in the 12th century, it's not hard to see why.

Palermo News & Gossip

Travel News: Palazzo Riso

PALERMO

The Sicilian capital has plenty to offer old-school art and architecture fans - churches decorated with distinctive Palermitano baroque stucco, an unusual cathedral with a Moorish twist and the Byzantine splendour of Monreale. But a new contemporary art museum, Palazzo Riso, is set to attract a whole new breed of art lover. Housed in a magnificent, 17th-century palace on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the cutting-edge artwork on display works well with the neo-classical style of the building. The inaugural exhibition Essential Experiences, which runs until 11 April, mixes work by top contemporary artists, including Gilbert and George, with local talent. Palazzo Riso also offers the latest technology with a system of new multimedia transmitters, which replace audio guides by sending information about the artworks to visitors' mobiles. www.palazzoriso.it

Palermo Trivia

March: The earliest traces of civilisation in Palermo are found in caves on Monte Pellegrino, where etchings describing hunts and everyday life are said to date back to Paleolithic times.
February: The Cathedral of Monreale was built in just under 15 years, a miracle, considering its exquisite architecture and mosaics, for its time.
January: On windowsills of the Palazzo Steri, infamously remembered as being the spot where the tribunal of the Spanish Inquisition was held, there are still etchings carved by the prisoners who were being tried.