Places Where to Go

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 PALERMO

If you are ever going to Sicily, the first city I would suggest you to visit is Palermo, its capital. Palermo's cathedral represents the main attraction of this place. Due to the several populations that dominated the city all over the centuries, the cathedral is characterized by a myriad of different artistic styles. Built in 1885 on the directions of Pope Gregory I, the church as seen many uses involving a crypt and a mosque. 



The Palace of Normans is another place you must visit if you ever come to Palermo. Also called the Royale Palace, it served as the main residency of the Kings of Sicily for centuries. It's one of the most ancient royal palaces in Europe and it was built in the 9th century by the Amir of Palermo. A main characteristic of the exterior part of the palace is the central courtyard that includes some fascinating decorations and stone arches. 



The Mondello Beach is situated 15 minutes to the north of Palermo, in the small town of Mondello. Here you'll be able to find an amazing sandy beach and enjoy the cool Mediterranean waters. The place can be very crowed during mornings summer, so I would suggest you to go later in the afternoon. Mondello Beach is considered one of the most attractive and popular seaside destinations in Sicily, and that's why tourists tend to love it. 



The Teatro Massimo is the last Palermo's landmark I am going to mention in this post and I know you are going to love it. I think you must visit this place, while visiting the city, because it's the third-largest opera house in Europe, next to the Vienna State Opera and and the Opéra in Paris. It was built in 1864 by Antonio Starabba, the mayor of Palermo at that time. The capacity of the theater is so vast that almost 1500 people can assist to a spectacle.


 
VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES

The Valley of the Temples is an archeological site situated in Agrigento, one of the most important cities in Sicily. Since 1997, it has been considered one of the most outstanding examples of Greek art and architecture. Most of the temples in the Valley are UNESCO's patrimony, because of the cultural and historical relevance that they have worldwide. In the archeological site you'll be able to find 7 Greek temples, all of Doric order. The most important temple that you can find in the Valley is called the Temple of Concordia. This is considered to be the best-preserved and largest Doric temple in Sicily and one of the best-preserved Greek temples in general, in particular of the Doric Order. 









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