General

Palermo

Palermo A visit to Palermo is like a journey into a time machine: Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spanish will flow before your eyes in a city mix and valuable. The visit of Palermo provides un’obbligatoria stop at the Cathedral, built in 1145, which presents a superimposition of styles from data additions occurred over time. In fact, the main façade preserves the appearance of the XV and XVI centuries. Very impressive to visit two places of the various types: the Catacombs of the Capuchins and the picturesque market “Vucciria”. The theaters, both in the neoclassical style, the Massimo and Politeama. The historical and artistic heart of the city is represented by the neighborhoods that gravitate around the two main arteries: via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda that meet at right angles in the famous “Quattro Canti”, because of the four rounded corners of Baroque palaces that ahead, adorned with statues and fountains. Near it opens the Pretoria Square with the imposing Palazzo Senatorio or the Town Hall, also called the Palace of the Eagles, the church of St. Catherine and the magnificent fountain Pretoria, 1555, by the Florentine Francesco Camilliani. Here you can admire the Martorana church, also called St. Mary’s, Norman precious jewel, built in 1143 by Admiral George of Antioch and later altered by a baroque facade. At the entrance is a beautiful four-storey bell tower with mullioned windows and colorfully decorated in Arabic style. Martorana is located next to the church of San Cataldo, of Norman origin, built around 1160 by Admiral Majone of Bari which preserves very well the original architectural shapes with a particular frame embattled three red domes hemispherical raised on a drum of Arab flavor . Opposite is the church of St. Catherine, in a vast Dominican monastery built in 1310 and enlarged around a sixteenth century cloister. Built between 1580 and 1596, it has a late-Renaissance facade and a single nave interior. Adjacent to the Bonanno villa on a hill, it stands the Royal Palace or Palace of the Normans, who represents one of the most important monuments of the city to the historical importance – artistic. The Normans built a fortress with four towers on a pre-existing Arabic website and its once Roman and Punic. In 1130 Roger II became king of Sicily and made it his magnificent palace, enlarging and building the Palatine Chapel. It became, with Federico II, a heartland of art, culture and civilization in Europe.

Monreale The town, favorite by the Norman kings as a summer residence, is world famous for the beautiful Cathedral and the adjacent former Benedictine Monastery with the remarkable cloister of the twelfth century. The Cathedral was founded in 1174 by the Norman King William II, and is considered one of the most important monuments of the Italian Middle Ages. To visit the Civic Gallery of Modern Art Giuseppe Sciortino that guards in two rooms the most representative works of contemporary painters and sculptors, the seminar of the Clerics, Renaissance adaptation of the Norman Royal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panorama. Cefalu Land of Myth and mythical holiday, a terrace suspended between mountains and sea surrounded by the scent of jasmine in an idyllic position on the beautiful and picturesque contrast between sea and rock. Located at the foot of the Madonie, surrounded by unspoilt nature, you will find an unknown Sicily made of ancient flavors and the medieval countries. The territory of Cefalu, in addition to hill and mountain routes of the Madonie, offers great hiking and beautiful nature, as well as many scenic and natural beauty. The ancient name Kephaloidion it derives from the greek kefalè boss, referring to the rock that dominates it. The Normans left their most beautiful Cathedral, founded by King Roger in 1131, whose construction was completed in over a hundred years. Do not miss the cloister next to the church from which you can admire the sides of the complex and the apses of the Cathedral. See, also, the Bishop’s Palace in 1793, Palazzo Piraino with a sixteenth-century portal and the former monastery of St. Catherine, now the Town Hall. Shortly beyond the Piazza del Duomo is the Mandralisca Museum, which holds in its Greek and Arabic ceramic salt, ancient Sicilian coins, paintings and other works of art including vessels of Antonello’s famous “Portrait of an unknown” by the Messina 1465-70. To visit is the Fountain, located on the cliff, with interesting remains of archaic fortifications composed of large blocks of polygonal shape at the base, with the top medieval or modern remakes. For the Via Vittorio Emanuele you reach, protected by a gate, a medieval wash dug into the rock. A walk on the cliff, following Vicolo dei Saraceni, leads to the ruins of the Temple of Diana in the ninth century BC and the Medieval Castle. A few km from Cefalu, 800 meters s.l.m., amidst the lush vegetation of chestnut, oak and ash trees, stands the Sanctuary of Gibilmanna, interesting place of worship and pilgrimage.

Cefalù Land of myth and mythical holiday, a terrace suspended between mountains and sea surrounded by the scent of jasmine in an idyllic position for the beautiful and picturesque contrast between sea and rock. Located at the foot of the Madonie, surrounded by unspoilt nature, you will find an unknown Sicily made of ancient flavors and the medieval countries. The territory of Cefalu, in addition to hill and mountain routes of the Madonie, offers great hiking and beautiful nature, as well as many scenic and natural beauty. The ancient name Kephaloidion it derives from the greek kefalè boss, referring to the rock that dominates it. The Normans left their most beautiful Cathedral, founded by King Roger in 1131, whose construction was completed in over a hundred years. Do not miss the cloister next to the church from which you can admire the sides of the complex and the apses of the Cathedral. See, also, the Bishop’s Palace in 1793, Palazzo Piraino with a sixteenth-century portal and the former monastery of St. Catherine, now the Town Hall. Shortly beyond the Piazza del Duomo is the Mandralisca Museum, which holds in its Greek and Arabic ceramic salt, ancient Sicilian coins, paintings and other works of art including vessels of Antonello’s famous “Portrait of an unknown” by the Messina 1465-70. To visit is the Fountain, located on the cliff, with interesting remains of archaic fortifications composed of large blocks of polygonal shape at the base, with the top medieval or modern remakes. For the Via Vittorio Emanuele you reach, protected by a gate, a medieval wash dug into the rock. A walk on the cliff, following Vicolo dei Saraceni, leads to the ruins of the Temple of Diana in the ninth century BC and the Medieval Castle. A few km from Cefalu, 800 meters s.l.m., amidst the lush vegetation of chestnut, oak and ash trees, stands the Sanctuary of Gibilmanna, interesting place of worship and pilgrimage.

Sports and nature