If you opt for a European tourist destination, consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern Italy. Depending on the interest you to this beautiful region an ideal holiday destination. You can get classic Italian food, and wash yourself with fine wine. And parts of Sicily, has not yet been discovered by tourists. This article presents Sicily's capital, Palermo. A companion article presents western Sicily. Another companion article presents easternSicily.
Sicily, Palermo is the capital and largest city with a population of about 700,000. It was founded in the eighth century BC by the Phoenicians, who wanted to take advantage of the natural harbor. This strategically located city was conquered again and again. For example, it was once a Muslim city with two or three hundred Mosques. The time of the Norman occupation from 1072 and lasting well over one hundred years was the golden age Palermo. The conquestscontinued almost unabated. Palermo was destroyed during the Second World War. To some extent, Palermo is still in the hands of a conqueror, the Mafia.
We begin our tour of the cathedral, converted in 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica into a mosque by the Saracens in the ninth century. The construction sector has been for centuries, with each addition or renovation work done in the style of the time. The building has an observatory built in 1690, to be servedCheck time with coordinate Palermo St. Peter's in Rome, and the correct date to celebrate Easter. As elsewhere in Sicily, lava was occasionally building materials.
Among the dozen or more historic churches worth visiting San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi (St. John of Lebbrosi) are from the year 1072, including San Giovanni degli Eremiti (St. John the Hermit), whose style many Arabic influences, the Greek Orthodox also known as the church of La Martorana Martorana (Saint MaryAdmiral) and San Cataldo (St. Cataldo), Saracens, with its red domes. The latter two churches overlooking the Piazza Bellini, behind City Hall. The nuns of Martorana were famous for their fruit and vegetables from marzipan shaped to decorate the bare trees. While the monastery no longer exists, this candy is still made. But you will not be in the trees. Talking about trees, many churches and other buildings in or near beautiful parks.
Santa Maria delloSpasimo was built just over 500 years ago. It has been honored by the paintings of Raphael Sicilia Spasimo hangs in the Prado in Madrid, Spain. This church, later converted into a hospital and then became a warehouse. It is now an open-air theater and cultural center.
Talks about the theater, the Teatro Massimo (Great Theater), Italy's largest (and Europe), the third largest opera house, even if its seating for 1350 spectators, less than half the original plan. The original Teatro tooktwenty-two years to build, it was in 1974, closed for security reasons and remained closed twenty-three years, the reopening of just four days before her hundredth birthday. The movie Godfather Part III contains a famous scene, violent course that on the steps of the Teatro completed.
The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) is also known as the Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace) was the seat of government for centuries. It is now the home of the Sicilian Parliament. The Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) was the royalChapel of the Norman kings of Sicily. The mosaics are particularly worth seeing. The building and its furnishings are a good combination of Arab, Byzantine and Norman style. If you're lucky, you can be able to see the Sala di Re Ruggero (King Roger's Hall), the royal apartments to get an idea of how the other half lived.
Be sure to see the Museo Archeologico Regionale Salinas (Salinas Regional Museum of Archeology) with its prehistoric cave drawings and expertly reconstructed partfrom a Greek temple in Sicily, from two and a half millennia. Then for A Change of pace visit the Museo delle Marionette (Puppet Museum) with its focus on Norman Sicily. Many of his marionettes are hundreds of years old. There are live performances at the Puppet Theater Cuticchio.
Perhaps you want to end your tour of this very special city in Piazza Pretoria (Pretoria Square) for sale. The fountain that dominates this square contains hundreds of sculptures whose lack of clothingled to the name, “Fountain of Shame”. We suggest that you see this square at night.
What about food? Sicily has always adapted foreign foods to come up with Sicilian versions. The Greeks brought vegetables, fish, and grape vines, the Normans brought cod and baking. The Arabs introduced fruit and nut trees, goat and lamb, cheese and pasta including couscous. Put these influences all together and you have Sicilian cuisine, unique Sicilian cuisine.
Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Pasta con le Sarde (Pasta with Sardines and Bread Crumbs). Then try Insalata de Mare (Steamed Fish). For dessert indulge yourself with Cannoli (Deep fried Pastry stuffed with Ricotta Cheese and Candied Fruit). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.
We’ll conclude with a quick look at Sicilian wine. Even though Sicilians drink less wine than the residents of any other part of Italy, Sicily holds first Place among the 20 Italian regions for both land dedicated to vines, and for the total annual wine production. If Sicily is an independent country, it would be the world's seventh largest wine producer. The following statistic may surprise some: Only slightly more than half of Sicilian red wine. Sicily seven p.m. DOC wines produced. DOC stands for Controlled Denomination of Origin, which can be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin,presumably a high-quality wines. Only about 2% of Sicilian wine leads sometimes prestigious classification. Marsala DOC, first exported to England just over two hundred years, Sicily's most famous wine. Marsalas Most are sweet, some are great, others not.
