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Palermo, Mondello and Monreale

the capital of Sicily

Palermo

Palermo, with 750,000 inhabitants, is the capital of Sicily and the seat of the regional government. It is beautifully situated at the bottom of a bay from Capo Zafferano to Monte Pellegrino. An amphitheater of mountains surrounds the Conca d'Oro (Golden Shell) within which the city lies. Surrounded by vineyards, palm trees, and orange trees, thanks to its temperate climate, and built for the pleasure of kings, Palermo truly seems to have been a dream city.
Founded by the Phoenicians, Palermo later passed into the hands of the Romans, Arabs, French, Germans, and Spaniards.
Although Palermo has suffered much from centuries of conflict, miraculously much remains from the Norman and Arab periods, as well as many Baroque buildings.
At least four days should be set aside to visit Palermo and its surroundings. There are numerous ancient sites scattered throughout the city, the main ones being: the Church of S. Cataldo, the Martorana Church, the Palazzo dei Normanni (Palace of the Normans), the Cappella Palatina, the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the National Gallery of Sicily, the National Archaeological Museum, and outside Palermo, Monreale.


Mondello
Originally a fishing village, Mondello has become the most popular beach in Palermo and one of the most famous resorts in Sicily, located on a beautiful bay between Monte Pellegrino and Capo Gallo. It features long sandy beaches and the sea is crystal clear with beautiful colors. Thanks to the mild climate, Mondello is also well-visited during the winter.


Monreale
Monreale (8 km), the main tourist destination near Palermo, is primarily known for its stunning cloister and grand cathedral. A place that cannot be missed! Monreale has 23,000 inhabitants, situated 310 meters above sea level, and offers a view over the Valle dell'Oreto and the Conca d'Oro. The magnificent Cathedral dating back to 1173 is the pinnacle of Arab-Norman architectural style. Between the two imposing towers, the elegant portico of Marabitti opens with three round arches and Doric columns added in the 18th century. The Byzantine mosaics, totaling 6340 m2, are famous, the second-largest surface after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. They were crafted by anonymous artists between the 12th and 13th centuries.