About

The capital of Sicily, Palermo is situated on the northwest coast of the island. Since the ancient times, the city has been a center of architecture, culture, history and gastronomy. It is the economic and tourism hub of Sicily. Its Mediterranean weather produces hot summers and moderate winters. Receiving more than 2,500 hours of annual sunshine, Palermo has summer highs in the upper 80s and winter lows in the 40s. In addition to several historic churches, points of interest in the city include the Palazzo dei Normanni, the Teatro Massimo opera house and Quattro Canti square. The Palermo Botanical Garden and Capuchin Catacombs are also popular sites.

Getting to and from Palermo

Palermo International Airport is located approximately 20 miles west of the city along the A29 motorway. The airport’s rail station is connected to the Palermo Centrale railway station, which provides service to other parts of the island, including Syracuse and Messina. Trains travel in each direction every 30 minutes from early morning until 10 p.m. Several major rental car agencies operate at the airport. Taxis and scheduled public buses travel between the airport and city center as well. Palermo is also accessible by ferry from the Italian mainland.