#sicily #travel #palermo #italy #history
Follow us on our new adventures in #europe and #italia on @Autourdumonde1 . Between history, #tourism and #gastronomy , this several-week journey will let you discover splendid places both on land and from the air. Please note that all images, even those shot by #drone , are filmed in #4k .
The first leg of this new journey takes us from Montreal to Palermo, via Paris and Milan. A getaway that will introduce you to the city of Palermo, a marvel as much for its good food as for its architecture and historic buildings. And we will visit the archeological site of #Segesta.
0:29 Introduction
1:06 Montreal to Paris
2:48 Paris to Milan, then Palermo
4:10 First evening in the capital
5:14 Dinner at Il Cappero restaurant
5:55 Start of the day
6:52 Visit to Palais Normand
10:32 Visit to the Church of St-Jean-des-Ermites
12:42 Stop at Palermo Cathedral
14:04 Stroll through the city streets
15:09 Short visit to San Cataldo and the Martorana
16:19 Stroll through the Balaro market
17:29 Lunch at the Trattoria del Massimo
17:49 The famous Teatro Massimo
20:24 Visit to the archaeological site of Segesta
23:12 Dinner at Trattoria Carpaccio and end of the evening
First visit: The Norman Palace
The Norman Palace is the No. 1 attraction of any visit to Palermo. From the 12th century onwards, the building was the residence of the Norman kings. Today, it is the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly.
A word of advice: don't forget to book your ticket in advance, as some days the number of visitors exceeds the building's capacity.
Our visit begins on the second floor of the palace, with the Palatine Chapel. This is undoubtedly the highlight of the show, so spectacular are the frescoes. Almost a replica of Monreal Cathedral, the chapel was consecrated in 1143. It is said to be the finest example of the Arab-Norman style, a blend of Carolingian, Norman, Byzantine and Arab influences.
Second visit: Église St-Jean-des-Ermites
Another example of Sicily's Arab-Norman heritage is the church of St-Jean-des-Ermites.
One of Palermo's most remarkable medieval buildings and one of the city's most symbolic monuments, the church is thought to have been built in Norman times, between 1130 and 1148, during the reign of King Roger II, but was radically restored in 1882 by Giuseppe Patricolo.
Third visit: Palermo Cathedral
Another must-see is the Duomo di Palermo, or Palermo Cathedral, which, like St. John the Hermit, dates from the 12th century. From the outside, you can recognize the building's Arab-Norman style. Once again, legend has it that the site once housed a church, converted into a mosque in the 9th century by the Arabs.
What is certain, however, is that the coronation of Sicily's first king, Roger II, took place here on Christmas Day in 1130. For a few euros, visitors can contemplate several important tombs, including those of Emperor Frederick II and his wife Constance of Aragon; King Roger II of Sicily; and even Saint Rosalie of Palermo, the city's patron saint.
Fourth visit: San Cataldo and the Martorana
Piazza Bellini is home to three historic churches in completely different styles. Two of them date back to the time of Norman Sicily, and are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Our first stop was the church of San Cataldo, built in 1154 and similar in style to St-Jean-des-Ermites, with its three red domes. Next, the church of Martorana, a few steps away, with its superb mosaics.
Fifth visit: Teatro Massimo
The Teatro Massimo is Italy's largest opera house, and even Europe's third largest, with over 1,600 seats. Its stage is so vast that it can accommodate up to 700 actors! Only the Opéra Garnier in Paris and the Staatsoper in Vienna offer larger halls than this.
Final visit: the archaeological site of Segesta
Set in a rural landscape, the ancient city is a reminder of the island's Greek past. In fact, it's a vast site - you even have to take a bus to get to the top.
Some useful links :
- Tourism Sicily
www.visitsicily.info/
- Tourism Parlemo
wearepalermo.com/palermo-tourist-information/
- Norman Palace
www.federicosecondo.org/en/605-2/
- Segesta
www.segestawelcome.com/