Ballaro' market
by lichinga
Street markets are for sure the best place you may think about when you want to have an idea on how people live. And the place where most of the traditional food still resist the impact of supermarkets or those shameful inventions called "commercial malls", "commercial centers" or similar destroyers of our biodiversity and culture. Ballaro' market lies between the Cathedral and via Maqueda, roughly speaking.
I Rosaneri
by Cuorerosanero
Undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Palermo/Sicily is a trip to the spectacular Stadio Renzo Barbera known locally as La Favorita and here on a Sunday afternoon from September to April you can see the mighty Rosaneri play.
For years they were one of the worst teams in the world, I can remember Seria C2, but now it's a completely different story! They are so good that Seria A and the UEFA cup are now the norm.
If you are touring Sicily and wish to see a football match I would still recommend Palermo as the other two Seria A teams are not as good, particularly Catania.
Tickets are available from the SNAI bookmakers found all over the city and are best bought in advance to avoid the fight to the death on Saturday, and don't forget to take a document for both buying the tickets and getting into the stadium.
I go in the curva sud superiore, it's cheaper, there's a good view and I'm scared to go in the curva nord because that's for the headcases! Photographic Identification
Many take a plastic bag/magazine to sit on - you'll soon find out why!
Passion
Chiesa di San Cataldo
by bambino36
This tiny Church, was built around 1154. Inwardly and outwardly, the church retains the twelfth-century appearence; it doesn't even have electric lighting.
Externally, its most distinctive features are the three pinkish red domes or cupolas. Down the steps at street level, at the base of its foundation, are the remains of a Roman wall.
Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio
by ruki
This church is named thus as it was built on the wishes of the Admiral Giorgio d'Antiochia in 1142, who then gave it to the convent of Eloisa Martorana. It is a Norman-style building, even though it is similar to the Byzantine churches, due to its square structure and the splendid mosaics kept inside, together with frescoes and Baroque marble pieces
Female + alone + night = no. Otherwise, great!
by phoaquinjoenix
I started off scared in Palermo! Arriving in the late evening on the train from Genoa I went looking for a cheap hotel and found one easily on the Via Maqueda...followed by a number of 9 - 12 year old 'gigolos'. It was pretty worrying, and I kept a tight hold on my bag.
However, come the daylight and I was glad I came. Ecstatic. In the day Palermo knocks off it's sleazy atmosphere and has a character which your imagination can run wild with. Rubbing shoulders with the 'cosa nostra' may not be politically correct (but then neither's George W.), but it's something to add to the memoirs!
Two places I loved: the Capuchin crypt (I visited in March and the place was entirely empty) where the dessicated figures of Sicily's equivalent of Venetian Doges hang over you in their black robes and feathered hats. Where bodies lie, hang or lean along whitewashed corridors in various states of mummification. The two year old in the corner, which someone else has been sure to have written about, - causes you to face mortality with an 'aaah' - she really looks like she's having a nap.
The second choice of visit - Mondello beach. A short trip, near empty in march but still warm.
I started off terrified of Palermo, I ended up missing it when I took the train back. Oh, and girls, the men are easy.....