30 Fascinating Facts About Palermo

30 Fascinating Facts About Palermo

Sicily’s capital, Palermo, astonishes the senses with its lively energy, varied culture, and lengthy history. It is one of the most alluring places in Italy, where old customs mix with contemporary life to produce a tapestry of fascinating encounters.

To find the historical enigmas, cultural treasures, and hidden gems that make Palermo a genuine Mediterranean pearl, we’ll set out on a voyage across time and space. Every tourist and history buff will find something to interest them in this dynamic city, which has everything to offer from its historic beginnings as a Phoenician settlement to its more recent reputation as a gourmet haven.

Here are the 30 Fascinating Facts About Palermo:

1. Palermo Lies in a Basin

Image by Nicola Giordano from Pixabay

This wonderful city in Italy is geographically located in a place that attracts many. It is located in a basin that was formed by the Papireto, Kemonia, and Oreto rivers.

This basin where the city of Palermo is located was named the Conca d’Oro which means the Golden Basin. The Arabs were the ones responsible for this naming in the 9th century.

2. The City is Surrounded by Mountains with a View of the Sea

Other than lying in the Golden Basin, Palermo is surrounded by a mountain range. The mountain range that surrounds the city is named after the city, Palermo.

They also face the Tyrrhenian Sea which is important for the geography of the city. There is also a natural port in Palermo that offers views of the sea especially when you are in Monte Pellegrino.

3. Human Settlement in Palermo Dates Back to the Mesolithic Period

Image by F. Heiberger from Pixabay

There is proof that people lived in the present-day Palermo area as early as the Mesolithic era, maybe as early as 8000 BC. This is based on the discovery of a collection of cave drawings from that era at the neighboring Addaura. According to Thucydides, the Sicani people were the first occupants and came from somewhere on the Iberian Peninsula, maybe Catalonia.

4. The City was Founded in 734 BC

Known as Sis (“flower”), the city was established in 734 BC by the Phoenicians. After that, Carthage came to own Palermo. Later after the fifth century BC, the Carthaginians adopted the term Panormos on their coins, referring to the two Greek colonies that were created under this collective name.

The town was included in the Roman Republic and Empire as Panormus, and it remained thus for more than a millennium. When the city became the capital of Sicily for the first time, it was ruled by Arabs in the Emirate of Sicily from 831 to 1072. The city was known as Balarm at this period. Palermo served as the capital of the newly formed Kingdom of Sicily, which existed from 1130 to 1816, after the Norman conquest.

5. The History of the City Involves Several Civilizations

Palermo has one of the most distinctive and diversified histories of any significant Italian city. The earliest notable civilization in the region is thought to have been the Phoenicians, whose prehistoric colonies date back to 8000 BC.

The city would be claimed by the Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines throughout the ensuing centuries, each of whom left their stamp on the city through distinctive architecture. However, the Arabian civilization, which established it as the seat of a Sicilian Emirate, had the greatest influence on the region.

For more than a century, they ruled over Palermo, a city whose cultural significance was matched only by Cairo. The city is resonant with this era, from its distinctive architecture to its lively bazaars.

6. Palermo was Heavily Bombed During World War II

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Palermo was brutally attacked and heavily bombed by the Allied air forces in 1942 and 1943 during World War II. On 22nd July 1943, it was captured as part of the Allied invasion of Sicily. Along with a significant portion of the city, the harbor—the primary target of the airstrikes—and its environs were virtually destroyed, and there were many civilian casualties.

In 1943, American troops arrived in Palermo and were met with “a thunderous welcome by what seemed the entire population demonstrating their feelings about Fascist rule.”

7. The People of Palermo Celebrate the Annual Festino on 14 July

Palermo residents celebrate the annual Festino on July 14, which is the most significant religious occasion of the year. Palermo’s main street is the scene of a parade known as the Festino, which honors the miracle ascribed to Saint Rosalia, who is said to have saved the city from the Black Death in 1624. After her remains were found in a cave on Monte Pellegrino, the plague was banished from the city three times over.

8. Palermo Experiences a Hot-summer Subtropical Mediterranean Climate

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Palermo enjoys a moderately seasonal hot-summer subtropical Mediterranean climate (Köppen climatic classification: Csa). Because of the subtropical high-pressure system’s dominance, summers are extremely long, hot, and dry, and winters are warm and variable with rainy weather because of the polar front. Autumn and springtime are usually warm months.

9. The City is One of the Warmest Cities in Europe

With an average annual air temperature of 18 °C (64 °F), Palermo is one of the warmest cities in Europe (mostly because of its warm evenings). It is also one of the warmest cities in Italy. It experiences about 2,530 hours of sunshine annually.

Palermo has only snowed roughly a dozen times since 1945, making snowfall unusual. Sea temperatures range from 14 °C (57 °F) in February to 26 °C (79 °F) in August, with an average annual temperature exceeding 19 °C (66 °F). Between November and May, the average sea temperature is higher than 18 °C (64 °F), while between June and October, it is higher than 21 °C (70 °F).

10. Two of the Three Rivers in the City are Covered by Buildings

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Both the Kemonia and the Papireto rivers are currently covered and hidden by buildings. Nonetheless, because the streets were constructed on top of the former watercourses’ contours, it is still possible to identify their shape today.

The Oreto River, which separates the city’s downtown area from its western uptown and industrial sectors, is now the only body of water that hasn’t been drained yet. However, there were several seasonal torrents in the basins that contributed to the formation of swampy plains that were later reclaimed; the town of Mondello is a prime example of this.

11. Palermo had 2 Rings of City Walls

Palermo boasted of two rings of city walls with some parts of the walls still surviving to the current day. The ancient core of the Phoenician city, the Palaeopolis, and the Neapolis were surrounded by the first ring of the city wall.

The other ring went through Via Vittorio Emanuele which was the main road located east-west of the city. The historic dock in Piazza Marina and Via Roma marked the eastern boundary of the walled city. Porto Nuovo, Corso Alberti, Piazza Peranni, Via Isodoro, Via Candela, Via Venezia, Via Roma, Piazza Panini, Via Biscottari, Via Del Bastione, Palazzo dei Normanni, and back to Porto Nuovo comprised the approximate wall circle.

12. The City has its own Football Club

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The city is known to have a professional football team. Palermo Football Club which is commonly referred to as simply Palermo is the city’s main football club.

The team currently competes in Serie B after being relegated from Serie A during the 2018-2019 season. Palermo football club was hit by bankruptcy until Hera Hora Srl’s company took over.

13. Palermo Hosts Several Sporting Activities

An open-road endurance car event called the Targa Florio took place close to Palermo. It was one of the first sports car races, having been started in 1906. Safety issues led to its discontinuation in 1977, although it has since resumed as a rallying event.

The 2008 Giro d’Italia’s grand departure took place in Palermo. It started with a 28.5 km (17.7 mi) Team Time Trial (TTT). Every year, the city hosts the WTA Tour stop for women’s professional tennis, the Internazionali Femminili di Palermo. Eagles United Palermo is the American football team that plays at Carini Stadium.

14. The City Boasts of High Population in Both the Urban and Metropolitan Areas

With an estimated 1.2 million residents, the Palermo metropolitan region is the fifth most populous in all of Italy. The Palermo urban area is estimated by Eurostat to have 855,285 residents. The population of the city is approximately 676,000 in the central region.

52.6% of people in 2010 were women and 47.4% of men. Those under the age of fifteen made up 15.6% of the population, while retirees made up 17.2%. This contrasts with the average for Italy, which is 20.2% of retirees and 14.1% of those under the age of 15.

Palermo’s average age is 40.4 years old, while the Italian average is 42.8 years old. Over the ten years from 2001 to 2010, Palermo’s population fell by 4.5%, while Italy’s overall population increased by 6.0%. The population exodus to Northern Italy and the suburbs is the cause of Palermo’s downfall.

15. Palermo is Served by the Palermo Metropolitan Railway Service

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The city of Palermo is served by the Palermo Metropolitan Railway service. This is a commuter rail system that is operated by Trenitalia.

The Palermo metropolitan railway service has two lines which are the Palermo Centrale-Punta Raisi that serves the airport and the Palermo Notarbartolo-Giachery. These lines are served by trains every 30 minutes.

16. The City is Interlinked by Trams, Buses and Coaches

AMAT is responsible for running the public bus system in Palermo, which has a net area of 340 km (211 mi). Approximately ninety-nine routes connect to every area of the city of Palermo.

AMAT is also in charge of running Palermo’s public tram system, which was completed in 2015. Palermo boasts 4 lines of the tram system which are; Roccella – Central Station, Borgo Nuovo – Notarbartolo Station, CEP – Notarbartolo Station, and Corso Calatafimi – Notarbartolo Station. Palermo is also connected to all of the major cities of Sicily by the local coach operator, AST, which operates 35 lines of coaches.

17. Palermo is Served by One International Airport

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Also known as Falcone-Borsellino Airport, formerly Punta Raisi Airport, Palermo International Airport serves the city. The airport is located 32 km west of the city center. Palermo International Airport is dedicated to Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.

The two were anti-mafia judges who were killed by the Mafia in the early 1990s. Punta Raisi railway station links the city center to the international airport. The second airport of Palermo is the Palermo-Boccadifalco airport.

18. Other Italian Cities are Linked to Palermo via the Palermo Port

The two largest ports of the city of Palermo are Messina and Palermo, which were established approximately 2,700 years ago by the Phoenicians. Ferries connect Palermo to several towns including Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Naples, and Tunis.

They transport almost two million passengers every year. It is a significant harbor for cruise ships as well. Every year, there are 80,000 TEUs and nearly 5×106 t (5.5×106 short tonnes) of cargo transported. Additionally, the port is connected (through Cefalù in summer) to minor Sicilian islands like Ustica and the Aeolian Islands. There is a “tourist marina” area within the Port of Palermo for sailing boats and catamarans.

19. The Local University of Palermo is the Second Oldest in the City

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The City of Palermo is served by several universities, but there is an old local university. The University of Palermo, the second oldest University in the city is one of the oldest local tertiary institutions. This University was established in 1806.

However, it has been revealed in historical records that medicine and law were taught at the University since the late 15th century. The University’s Department of Botany is housed at the Palermo botanical gardens which is open for visitors too.

20. Italy’s Biggest Opera House is in Palermo

The Teatro Massimo, which translates to “Maximum Theatre,” is the largest theatre in both Italy and Europe. It first opened for business in 1897. Originally intended to hold 3,000 people, the auditorium currently holds slightly more than 1,300.

The house presents plays, ballets, operas, and classical music. In addition to its immensity, it is well-known for the flower wheel painting by Luigi Di Giovanni, the royal box, and its inclusion in the film The Godfather’s last sequence, which is filmed on the entry steps.

21. A Puppet Theatre Tradition is Observed in Palermo

Museo internazionale delle marionette Antonio Pasqualino, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Since the 15th century, traditional puppet theatre has been a well-liked kind of entertainment. Although it originated in Palermo, the practice is now practiced all over the island.

Both residents and tourists still travel to see and enjoy these amazing puppet shows. The local tradition, history, and myths from Sicily serve as the basis for the plays. There is a puppet museum in the city core, and all of the sets and puppets are handcrafted.

22. The City has Extensive Catacombs

More than 8,000 bodies can be found in the 16th-century Catacombe dei Cappuccini, which fascinates history buffs and fans of horror. When the monks ran out of space in their cemetery and wished to preserve the lives of significant and affluent people, they dug out the underground tunnels.

Initially, only monks, priests, and warriors were mummified; however, as time went on, the wealthy started to use mummification as a luxury and a status symbol. Some of the mummies are as old as 400 years old, but the last one to be added was in 1920.

23. Palermo is Home to 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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Palermo has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, compared to nineteen other countries with none. Mount Etna, the Aeolian Islands, Syracuse’s historic center, the Archaeological Area of Agrigento, Villa Romana del Casale, the Arab-Norman Palermo, and the Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto are among the island’s UNESCO sites.

24. The City is Sicily’s Cultural, Economic, and Tourism Capital

Sicily’s center of culture, commerce, and tourism is Palermo. Palermo is abundant in art, music, culture, history, and cuisine. The city draws a lot of tourists because of its beautiful Mediterranean climate, well-known restaurants, and gastronomy, as well as its cathedrals, palaces, buildings, and nightlife and music that include Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, and Art Nouveau styles.

25. Europe’s Oldest Royal Residence is in Palermo

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Palermo’s Royal Palace, also known as the Palazzo dei Normanni, is a palace located in the city. It served as the major seat of power for Sicily’s succeeding monarchs after serving as the residence of the island’s kings during the Norman occupation.

The palace has served as the Sicilian Regional Assembly’s headquarters since 1946. The structure, which is the oldest royal residence in Europe, served as both Frederick II and Conrad IV’s imperial throne and the private residence of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Sicily. The palace is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

26. The Last Standing Norman Architecture, The Cathedral of Monreale is in Palermo

William II of Sicily started construction on the Cathedral of Monreale in 1174. This cathedral is one of the best examples of Norman architecture still standing. By a bull issued by Pope Lucius III in 1182, the church honoring the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was promoted to the status of a metropolitan cathedral. One of Sicily’s main tourist destinations, the church is a national monument of Italy. Its dimensions are 40 meters (130 feet) in width and 102 meters (335 feet) in length.

27. The Palermo Cathedral and Palatine Chapel Boast of Medieval Architecture

Situated in Palermo, the Palermo Cathedral serves as the cathedral church for the Palermo Roman Catholic Archdiocese. It is devoted to the Virgin Mary’s Assumption. The complex’s architectural features are a result of numerous expansions, modifications, and restorations throughout the years, the most recent of which took place in the 18th century.

The royal chapel of the Norman palace is called the Palatine Chapel. This structure, which combines elements of Byzantine, Norman, and Fatimid architecture, depicts the tricultural state of Sicily in the twelfth century following the island’s conquest by Roger II’s father and uncle. The Saint Peter sanctuary is shaped like a basilica with a dome.

28. Palermo is a Haven for Cuisine

In 2015, Palermo was the street food capital of Europe. Sicilian food has been influenced by different cultures and influences for centuries. You will therefore be quite happy here if you enjoy a mash-up of Greek, Spanish, Arabian, or French cuisine.

A trip to Palermo wouldn’t be complete without sampling the world’s most delicious gelato or the classic arancini, which are rice balls from Sicily. Cannoli are undoubtedly the most important treat in Palermo. In Palermo, everything tastes better.

29. The City Boasts of Several Beautiful Beaches

Palermo is a wonderful city that is surrounded by three different water bodies. These include the Mediterranean Sea, Ionian, and Tyrrhenian. Tourists enjoy the beautiful beaches that are located in Palermo. They enjoy and relax on the golden sands of Mondello Beach and other beautiful spots.

30. Palermo Boasts of Several Medieval & Unusual Places to Visit

There are several unusual but worth-visiting places in Palermo. First up is the Pretoria Fountain, which was purchased by the Palermo Senate and delivered to Palermo in 644 pieces. It was created in 1554 by the sculptor Camilliani to adorn a Florentine home. It was put back together differently than it was intended to be.

Don’t miss Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri, which was constructed in 1320 by Manfredi I and belonged to the Chiaramonte family, one of the most influential families in western Sicily. Santa Maria dello Spasimo is an event center in the Kalsa district that was converted from an incomplete church. Come watch a show or the stars there because the building has no ceiling.

Palermo is a city that excites tourists with its fusion of cultures, delectable street cuisine, interesting historical sites, and striking street art. It is a fascinating place because of its vibrant modernity mixed with a rich historical tapestry.