Grande Albergo Maugeri. Palermo

Palermo is the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. It is rich in history and has got traces of its dominators. The city was founded by the Phoenicians, but named by the Ancient Greeks as Panormus meaning all-port. Palermo became part of the Roman Republic and eventually part of the Byzantine Empire, for over a thousand years. For a brief period it was under Arab rule during the Emirate of Sicily where it first became a capital. Following the Norman reconquest, Palermo would become capital of a new kingdom from 1130 to 1816, the Kingdom of Sicily. Eventually it would be united with the Kingdom of Naples to form the Two Sicilies until the Italian unification of 1860.
Visit
Royal Palace or Palazzo dei Normanni, one of the most beautiful Italian palaces and a notable example of Norman architecture, probably built over an Arab fortress. It houses the famous Cappella Palatina, Vicerè Maqueda's Court and Hercules' and Ruggero's Halls.
The Cathedral, built on the area of an earlier Byzantine basilica, was founded by St. Gregory and later turned into a mosque by the Saracens after their conquest of the city in the 9th century.
Inside you find the royal sarcophagi of Federico II, Ruggero II, Henry VI and Costanza d'Altavilla, the baptismal font by Pennino, and some statues by Laureana and Gagini; Sacrament Chapel graced by precious stones and lapislazzuli; Saint Rosalia Chapel that houses her silver urn; the treasure and the crown of Costanza d'Altavilla.
Kalsa area, nowadays called "Mandamento Tribunali" because of the presence of Chiaramonte-Steri Building, once Inquisition Law Court.
Visit Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, or della Martorana, which is the second cathedral of the city. Its Byzantin mosaics are wonderful and full of symbolic and political value, such as in Christ crowning Ruggero II's mosaic and Giorgio d'Antiochia, who built the church, at the foot of Mary's one.
Spasimo Church, whose construction started in the 6th century and never ended, hosts cultural events, theatrical and musical shows. It kept Raffaello's "Spasimo di Sicilia", today in Madrid, at Prado Museum.
Pretoria Square, also called Shame Square for the presence of nude statues in the gurgeous fountain by Camilliani; its 15th century Palazzo Senatorio, housing the city hall and 15th century Saint Caterina Church, whose decoration is amongst the richest of the period.
The Historical Marketplaces of Vucciria and Lattarini, the former selling meat and the latter spices and drugs.
Foro Italico or Passeggiata della Marina, a big green zone along the sea with park, Mediterranean plants and ceramics sculputers. Here Palermitans usually sunbath, go cycling and relaxing.
The Archaeological Regional Museum is one of the main italian museums: it includes numerous remains from Etruscan, Carthaginian, Roman and Hellenistic civilizations. It houses all the decorative parts from the Sicilian temples of Segesta and Selinunte.
The Teatro Massimo (Greatest Theatre) is an opera house and the third biggest theatre in Europe renowned for its perfect acustics. It was built on the area where Stimmate Church and St. Giuliano Convent, destroyed in the 18th century, were. It can host an audience of 200.000 per theatrical season.
Politeama, or Garibaldi Theatre, built in the 19th century, houses Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra. It has a circular structure with two arcades characterized by Ionian and Corinthian columns, a monumental entrance with two big bronze candelabri and the Rutelli's bronze Quadriga d'Apollo at the top of the building. The value of the theatre consists in the exaltation of its social function like common theatre. Nowadays Politeama is a landmark of the city and the squares in front of it, Ruggiero Settimo and Castelnuovo squares, are called Politeama Square.
The Regional Gallery, in Patella- Abatellis Building, houses an Eleonora of Aragon bust by Laurana, the Triumph of Death and the famous Annunziata by Antonello da Messina.
Royal Park of Favorita was built by Ferdinando III di Borbone to enjoy the coolness of the green park. It also houses the Chinese Palazzina, the house of Ferdinando IV during his exile. The Favorita is at the foot of Mount Pellegrino and together they form the "Riserva Naturale Orientata" (oriented nature reserve). Offering a wonderful view, Mount Pellegrino houses Saint Rosalia Church, the Patron Saint of the city, built on the cave where they say the saint lived. Inside the church there is the goldened marble statue of the Saint. Don't miss the "Fistinu", Saint Rosalia feast on the 14th July which attracts people from all over the world.