Hot nights in Palermo

... well, they weren't really hot! But at around 15°C, they were warm enough to escape the dreary German weather and soak up the first spring sun. And since we had never been to Italy together, we decided to pay a visit to the Sicilian capital.

Admittedly, we couldn't initially warm up to Palermo, because the coastal city is practically with its back to the sea. No promenade, no cafes, no beach - this is not what we imagined for our short trip by the Mediterranean. The restaurants and shops also seemed to still be in hibernation when we arrived. Moreover, the weather was only moderate, rather cool than warm.

At the market

But the next morning, the sun greeted us and the city slowly came to life. In our B & B, we learned that it had rained a lot in the past few weeks and the weather only became friendlier since our arrival. And so we gave Palermo a second chance and explored the old town with its sights like the majestic cathedral and the famous Fontana Pretoria. The longer we immersed ourselves in the city, the more we liked it. Palermo is a wild mix of magnificent buildings and completely run-down old buildings. The old town is completely geared towards tourism - countless cafes and souvenir shops line up. It is very clean and nicely done up. However, if you leave the city's main tourist artery, its true face is revealed: hectic traffic, a chorus of honking horns, trash on the side of the road, and a strange smell in the air. But these contrasts are exactly what makes traveling exciting!

Cathedral of Palermo

Fontana Pretoria

Selfie time at the church of San Domenica

A real highlight of Palermo are the Catacombs of the Capuchin Order, which can be visited for a 3 euro entrance fee. There, about 2000 mummies await, which have been preserved since the 16th century and are mostly simply hung on the walls. A truly creepy moment that also makes you think about death.

Over 2000 mummies can be found in the catacombs

After this experience, we treated ourselves to some Sicilian specialties, especially the sweet Cannoli, crispy wafers filled with ricotta. Together with a coffee, it was quite enjoyable in the spring sun - even without a promenade.

Sweet cannoli...

... and ice cream café - what more could you want?

By bus, you can also reach the nearby Mondello Beach. In summer, locals and tourists bathe in the waters of the Mediterranean there. In March, it is still too cold for swimming, but you can still get a small taste of the hottest season.

At the still deserted Mondello Beach

Not far from our B & B, we found the Garibaldi Park, a small park with really large fig trees that are said to be over 150 years old.

Ancient giant in Garibaldi Park

CONCLUSION:

Even though Palermo initially disappointed us a bit, it is still worth a visit, provided you don't expect a classic coastal town. It scores more with a beautiful old town, impressive sights, and culinary delights. Away from the main paths, you can also experience the 'real' Sicily in Palermo. If you embrace it, you can spend a few beautiful days in Palermo.