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Via Maqueda, 26, Palermo, Sicily, 90134, Italy
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of people enjoy staying here
32 Opinions
Palermo's gardens
wonderful!
chapel entrance
Formerly the Museo Nazionale
I will be in Palermo on 9/18 (off a cruise ship). We want to spend the day relaxing at the beach - enough excursions by this point. Thinking about going to Mondello Beach. Is this a good selection? Good sand, food, drinks, etc.? What is the best way to get to and from the dock in Palermo?
Thanks!!
Mondello is definitely worth a visit if you just want to relax. There are two buses running from the centre of Palermo to Mondello Lungomare. These are nos.
603 and 806 and they run every 20 minutes. The problem is, I can't remember where the closest bus stop is to the docks. It may be worth asking the purser
or checkin it out at the tourist office by the docks.
Thank you so much for the quick reply!
CAPPUCCINI CATACOMBE
This subterranean chamber is one of the more surrealistic places I've ever been. It's a gallery showing skeletons dressed up as they used to dress when they were alive!!! It's like a scary movie, but real....
Convento dei Cappuccini, Piazza dei Cappuccini. Tel: 091 212117.
This fine building of 1750 must have originally been a palace, although poorhouses were often lavish in those days. (no further info). This one is used for temporary exhibits as was the case when we went there to catch up with an elusive Antonello which usually is in Cefalu. The show was modest as to quality of content. Anyway it is long gone. Luckily it is near the Catacombe del Cappuccini, so if there is a reason to go here, you can combine the visits. Otherwise this picture is the only sight. The address is Corso Calatafimi 217.
The 800-pound gorilla among Palermo's sights is Monreale, an enormous Norman cathedral atop a hill overlooking the city. Its interior contains more than 500 square meters of gorgeous mosaics, depicting critical episodes from the Old and New Testaments with great narrative power. Unless you're familiar with your Bible stories, I recommend tracking down a guide to the cathedral before you go in so you can follow the events in the mosaic cycles. This is the mosaic of the destruction of Sodom.
Monreale was a revelation! If football hadn’t brought us to Palermo I don’t think we would ever have visited this place, and I confess I hadn’t heard of it prior to our visit. Yet it has the most amazing cathedral – when our taxi driver claimed it as the most beautiful in the world he may have had a point! The exterior is imposing, perched on a hillside at the bottom end of the town, but it is the stunning interior that makes this such an unmissable sight. Almost every surface is ornately decorated, in particular with rich blue, gold and other colours of mosaic, depicting the main stories of the Old and New Testaments. No one of any faith, or none at all, can fail to be moved by the sight.
While in Monreale also be sure to visit the cloisters, where each pillar is unique, and wander the streets for the wonderful views of Palermo and the bay below. For an even better view of the surrounding area, and if you have a good head for heights, climb the steps to the cathedral roof.
There are also several bars and tavernas, and a few interesting shops. If you’re here in the evening when most of the day-trippers have gone you’ll find it a friendly unpretentious town in which to experience a sense of the real Sicily. And if you'd like to read more about this great little town, do visit my Monreale page.
By my personal experience, I think this is one of the most amazing pieces of our wonderful planet. Palermo and Sicily itself have been the beating heart of the Mediterranean sea since 3,000 years BC: can you imagine how wide is the range of emotions and human civilisation signs you may find in this land?
I consider myself very lucky due to the fact my present job allows me to visit regularly Palermo and Sicily, so that I'll try to transmit as much as I can.
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Q: Bus from Palermo to Monreale "Hi!!!I will stay in Palermo the next week and I would like to visit Monreale in Sunday. I´ve seen in the AMAT PALERMO website that..."
A: "bookmark, I am going in December"
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Address: Via Maqueda, 26, Palermo, Sicily, 90134, Italy
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