When in Palermo, eating local street food is a must. Here are some foods to try: 

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Sfincione | Sicilian style pizza with a thin topping of tomatoes, onions, and cheese.

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Pane e pannelle | fried chickpea fritter sandwiches.

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Arancini | deep-fried rice balls stuffed with savory fillings.

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Brioche con gelato | a brioche bun stuffed with a couple scoops of gelato.

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Street food tour - option 1

Street food tour option 2

Ballarò market is the largest, oldest, and most famous market. Sprawling across several streets in a diverse central neighborhood, Ballarò is so far from being a market for tourists that it has actually become more popular with tourists craving a peek into Sicilian authenticity.

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Where | Start on 2-14 Via Dalmazio Birago, but you can also access via Piazza Casa Professa or Porta Sant’Agata.

Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo is popularly called Càssaro and is the oldest street in the city. The ancient street runs in a perfectly straight line for nearly two miles from Porta Nuova at the top of the hill to Porta Felice near the coast.

 

One of only two streets intersecting Vittorio Emanuele is Via Maqueda. This intersection is known as the Quattro Canti. It is here that the four main districts of Palermo meet. The buildings on the four corners are known for their baroque architecture.

Mondello | A 30 minute bus ride from the city centre, this popular sandy beach with clear water is the place to head once the weather heats up.

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Ustica | Located 52 km across the water from Palermo is the tiny volcanic island of Ustica; a nature haven popular for its beautiful beaches, island-wide hiking trail and clear waters (perfect for diving or snorkelling).

Anchored between salty water and craggy rock sits the charming small town of Cefalù. In recent years it has become the beachside break for those seeking sun and sand along the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily.

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Cefalù is an hour away from Palermo making it an excellent choice for a day trip. You can take the train that departs form Palermo's central station. The train takes one hour and twenty minutes, and costs around €6.00 per person.

This 500,000 year old volcano dominates Sicily’s eastern coast skyline and is the oldest and most active stratovolcano in the world.

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Rifugio Sapienza, located at the base of Etna and where you park your car, is a two hour drive from Palermo. You can use either a combo of walking / cable car / private 4x4 network to get all the way to 2,900 meters.

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Due to well-warranted security concerns on this super active volcano, it is only possible to hike to the summit as part of a tour.

The literal home of the Godfather, Corleone has somewhat of a reputation.

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Don’t miss CIDMA, where they have guided tours in English and Italian (book ahead via their website). Afterwards, take some time to wander around the quintessentially Sicilian town.

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Alternatively, Addiopizzo Travel runs the ‘Beyond the Mafia’ tour to Corleone on Fridays.

Capuchin monks' bodies were preserved and laid to rest in the crypts during the 17th - 19th centuries, primarily due to a lack of space in traditional burial sites.

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Around 2,000 skeletons and mummified bodies are found here pinned to the walls, sitting on benches, and in a variety of curious cadaverous contortions.

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Please note that it is still a final resting place for thousands. Photography is forbidden and you should respect this rule.

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Cost | € 3.00 per person, pay at the entrance.

Palermo Cathedral | Completed in 1184 a re-converted Christian church on the site of a Muslim Mosque.

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Chiesa Di Santa Caterina | its exquisitely ornate and detailed marble interiors are a joy to behold.

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Palatine Chapel  | Built in 1130 and a UNESCO Heritage site, this is Palermo’s top tourist attraction according to the Lonely Planet.

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Marvel at Monreale | is said to be one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture in Europe.

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Note that for visiting any of the above churches, modest dress is strictly enforced at the entrance, particularly for women. No bare shoulders or cleavage, skirts should be below the knee, and any hats or caps should be removed.