Nestling on the protective flank of Monte Pellegrino with Monte Alfano to the east, Palermo lies in a natural amphitheatre called the Conca d'Oro (Golden Shell).
Against La Cala harbour, the setting is beautiful and the city, a mix of oriental and European, is without equal despite reduced circumstances.
The architecture, ranging in style from Arabic to Norman, Baroque and Art Nouveau, is without comparison in Sicily, making this exotic city an exciting place to explore.
East of the Quattro Canti, where Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele meet, the city is sprinkled with ornate palaces and more churches.
Squeezed behind them are labyrinthine medieval quarters where ancient buildings with crumbling fabric still survive.

Sights at a glance:
1. Duomo;
2. La Magione;
3. La Martorana;
4. Museo Archeologico Regionale;
5. Palazzo Abatellis and Galleria Regionale di Sicilia;
6. Palazzo Reale;
7. Oratorio del Rosario di San Domenico;
8. San Giovanni degli Eremiti;
9. Santa Caterina;
10. Villa Giulia