Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is one of the most fascinating cities in Italy, characterized by countless architectural, natural and cultural beauties not to be missed.
Once you arrive, you will be spoilt for choice to decide what to visit first. Palermo boasts centuries of history and a large number of foreign dominations that have left numerous traces in its streets. For example, one of the most surprising cultural influences is the Arab-Norman: you can go to Piazza Indipendenza, one of the central squares of Palermo, to admire two of its most important symbols: the Palatine Chapel and the Royal Palace, the jewels of the Arab-Norman in Sicily. The Royal Palace is a thousand-year history that tells the story of the maestrance and architecture of the Arabs combined to the power of the Norman kings, who chose the Palace as their residence. Today the Palace is the seat of the Assembly of  Sicily.
Inside the Palace there is the Palatine Chapel, built in 1130 by King Ruggero II, who wanted to have a private chapel in the Palace. This is the meeting point between three different cultures and religions, since they were involved in both architecture and decoration, Islamic, Latin and Byzantine workers. The greatest attraction inside the chapel are its mosaics, made up of two glass plates divided by a very thin layer of gold.
Once you have finished your visit, you can continue to the Cathedral of Palermo, whose birth dates back to 1170, during the reign of Guglielmo II, when the pre-existing cathedral was rebuilt after the damage caused by the earthquake of 1169. The history of the cathedral alternated between Christian and Muslim worship, when during the Saracen occupation it was transformed into a mosque, then returned to its original cult with the arrival of the Normans in 1072. This is what made the cathedral full of works of art and decorations from different eras and cultures, making it today a cultural jewel of inestimable value. Perhaps the most important and famous point of the city is the area of the Quattro Canti, the intersection of four streets, which are under four orders (Loggia, Seracaldio, Kalsa and Alberghiera), sometimes called Teatro del Sole: Cross decorated with various statues depicting the patrons of each district and seasons.
From here you can explore Via Maqueda, which on one side leads to the magnificent Pretoria Fountain located a Piazza della Vergogna, whose name comes from the statues that characterize it all naked: the fountain forms an elliptical plant and it is surrounded by an elegant balustrade where the tanks are placed, the three main ones plus a series of small and medium tanks; some pagan deities such as Venus, Diana and Apollo are depicted, then sea monsters and nymphs. Walking along Via Maqueda until the end, on the other side, you reach the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Italy. Via Maqueda is a pedestrian street where it is very pleasant to walk around and find many shops of various kinds, restaurants and bars for a delicious break. If you want to immerse yourself in the authentic spirit of the city, you can not miss a visit to the two historic markets of the city, Vucciria and Mercato del Capo, whose visit is a unique experience.

A 30-minute drive, you will find Monreale, which is part of the metropolitan area of Palermo. City rich in history and architecture where there is no shortage of monuments to visit. The Cathedral of Monreale, an architectural masterpiece, where different styles and tastes are mixed inside. Since 2015, UNESCO heritage. You can also visit the Royal Palace, home of the Norman kings, which houses the town hall, Palazzo Cutò, the monumental cemetery, the Belvedere villa and the monumental fountains.