We got into our bed and breakfast (La Dimora del Capo) the night before and went straight to bed.
In the morning, we got to experience our new home for the week. The rooms and bathrooms were spacious, and the breakfast had everything from cereals, to toasts, croissants, cakes and a variety of jams. The B&B prepared us a beautiful spread that we had only a light amount of as our first stop was going to make our stomachs expand – the street markets of Ballaro and Vucciria.
Our first stop on the way was the Cathedral of Palermo.
Well worth visiting for the beautiful architecture and statues adorning the inside of the cathedral. It’s one of the top sites in Palermo and should certainly be checked out. It’s FREE to go in, but certain parts (the cloister) require payment.
After our brief stop, we went straight for the Ballaro market.
The market spans multiple streets and sells everything from clothing to seafood and of course, street food. We wished we had a place to cook on our own as the fish, squids and other fresh seafood looked gorgeous.
There was also a massive amount of vegetables and fruit stalls all of which whetted our appetite. It goes without saying – if you’re in Palermo, check out all 3 of the main markets!
We stopped at both Ballaro and Vuccira markets and had a bite to eat of several things such as Pane panelle e crocchè….
a delicious sandwich with fried balls inside…
a platter of seafood…
AND a final stop for some Menta granita with a side of gelato!
After a good hour of wandering the markets and eating, we wandered by the massive Teatro Politeama.
Then, we made our way to the Oratorio del Rosario di San Domenico and Oratorio di Santa Cita. These two oratorios are a place of beauty! You can get a deal for both (~11 euros adult; ~6 euros student as of 2016).
San Domenico had beautiful statues and paintings, all explained via audio guide.
Santa Cita took the cake as one of the most beautiful places we have ever been to.
Beautifully cut white marble statues adorning the walls with mini carvings of theatres telling a story cut into the marble on the wall make this oratorio as well as Santa Domenico a must see in Palermo.
We then went to K’Pane to have a few arancinis.
The small restaurant serves over 20 kinds from pasta to nutella. A fantastic spot to have one of Sicily’s most famous foods for a few euros.
Finally, we strolled to Giardino Inglese for an hour to relax in the park.
In the evening, we walked to the harbour and saw a puppet show at Teatro dei puppi.
It was fantastic, set in a small theatre. It is an authentic Sicilian puppet show for 1 hour that shouldn’t be missed. Run by a family who have been puppeteers for generations, it was a fantastic show for all, even if you don’t speak Italian.
For the night, we went to Enoteca Picone for wine tasting.
Trying a variety of wines and food, it was a great way to end the first day in Palermo.
Hi! Bonjour! I’m Sophia, a traveler since birth, a lover of nature and culture and a linguist! I want to share with you all the wonderful things you can do and experience if you just set your mind to it and travel!