Palermo Area Information

Palermo, the capital city of Sicily, lies on the north coast and is flanked by the two mountains Monte Pellegrino and Monte Alfano. The coast is rarhet striking in this area with distant views from the coastal road winding its way from west to east. This city is alos renowned as the home of the Mafia organisation ! Still, from a holiday point of view, it is a great central location for touring the islands many attrcations and a good place to rent a Sicily Villa for your holiday by the coast, or a Sicily apartment for your holiday in the noisey hustle and bustle of the city.

The red dome sof San Giovanni degli Eremiti represent an attractive run=ined cloister well worth a visit. Palazzo Reale, also known as Palazzo dei Normanni, has been the centre of power since Byzantine rule and is today the home of the Sicily Regional government. The Duomo, which was founded in 1184 is a good place to visit as is the unique church of Santa Caterina built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Outside the city the Duomo of Monreale is certainly worth a visit as it has a magnificent interior adroned with many mosaics and paintings. The cathedral was founded in 1172 by William II, a Norman king,

The Mafia, also known as 'Cosa Nostra', originates from Sicilian criminal society which is believed to have emerged in late nineteenth century from Sicily. The home base has always centred around the Sicilian capital of Palermo. The Mafia is really a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct. Each group, known as a 'family', 'clan' or 'cosca' which claims 'ownership' over a territory. In this territory they operate their less than legal businesses.

Whether you wish to visit north Sicily and Palermo for purely holiday reasons, or you have an interest in history or the Mafia, then we recommend staying in one of our Sicilian Villas by the sea or renting a Sicilian apartment in Palermo.

Palermo Apartments & Villas