Palermo

About Palermo

The Phoenicians founded Palermo as a trade port in 700 BC, and a long string of rulers followed. Carthage was the first to conquer it, followed by the Romans, the Vandals, and Arabian rulers who transformed it into a magical city with mosques, minarets, and markets. During the Crusades, the city was conquered by the Normans who continued building on the Arabian legacy of tolerance and enlightenment. That era is known as Palermo's "Golden Era". Today, tourists are diskovering a city with an exciting mix of medieval areas with clothes hung on lines between buildings and elegant residential districts with palm trees and palatial villas. Palermo is a city with stunning historical sights, a mouth-watering gastronomy tradition, crystal-clear waters, and an energetic atmosphere.