Where to have a nice holiday in 2016? the South America is infested with Zika, the Middle East is infested with terrorists, Africa is too hot, Asia is in the monsoon season. Maybe 2016 will be the year of European tourist destinations, and in the summer among the most crowded tourist destinations is just the beautiful Italy. But where to go? Italy is full of places bathed by a beautiful sea and clear water. Who doesn’t know Capri, Ischia, Amalfi, Positano, the Elba Island, Sardinia, and the Adriatic coast? However, among the major Italian tourist destinations is Sicily, the Italian region further south.
Sicily & Palermo: The Best Destination For Summer Holidays
While you decide to make a summer holiday in Sicily, you always think about the sea of Taormina, the Aeolian Islands or Lampedusa. However, today we speak of the Sicilian capital, Palermo, a city full of monuments, charm, and with some of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Italy. So, let’s find out what to do in Palermo and how to better organize their vacation.
Palermo is a unique city. UNESCO has defined its historic centre the largest in Europe, and this makes us understand how much beautiful and how many treasures this city has. However, what really characterizes the Sicilian capital are its endless and often absurd contradictions: so much beauty, so much history, so much culture, and so many treasures are too many for a population that lives unaware of his fortune and always continues to admire what it doesn’t possess.
The Beautiful Beaches of Palermo
But before start talking about the incredible cultural heritage of the Sicilian capital, let’s discover its best beach: Mondello. Crystal blue Caribbean Sea and white sand of Mondello make it one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In summer, it’s crowded of bathers and it’s almost impossible to find a free place, but Mondello is beautiful throughout the year, when the sunny days permit wonderful walks on the waterfront, permit to enjoy great food in the many local clubs and, why not, a regenerating bath out of season that never hurts.
Another beach, nothing short of spectacular, is Addaura. The Addaura beach, which takes its name from the dialect of “bay”, is located along the northern side of Mount Pellegrino, besides Punta Priola.
A lovely beach which looks toward the beginning of the Mondello Gulf. Beautiful beach resorts which has a lot of huge villas.
The seabed of this beach is full of ravines with bushy grasslands very interesting for those who enjoy diving.
Read Next
Palermo, Not Only Sea
But perhaps the best thing in spend their summer holidays in Palermo is the possibility to enjoy at the same time a cultural holiday and a beach holiday.
We have already mentioned the importance of the historical centre of the Sicilian capital, one of the major attractions in it is the Norman Palace, in the heart of the historic centre. Its name comes from the fact that the Normans rulers have restored it and gave him glory, but this building, which for centuries has hosted kings and governors of Sicily, is actually older and has been used for many subsequent centuries up to host today the Sicilian parliament. Inside, you will find the Palace Chapel, built by Ruggero II, small but amazingly decorated with Byzantine mosaics in sacred subjects which are among the most beautiful of Sicily and of the entire Mediterranean area.
A short distance from the Palace of the Normans is the beautiful church of San Giovanni of the Hermits. This church, dating from the twelfth century, is one of the architectural symbols of Palermo. With its characteristic red domes, it’s one of the finest examples of Arab-Norman architecture which is an example of the intertwining of different cultures in Sicily. The church was part of a former Benedictine convent of Norman times. Also the cloister is very nice, it’s adorned with columns and arches and Mediterranean plants.
Obviously, it’s unthinkable to be able to describe all the monuments of the historic centre of Palermo and the places of major interest of the surroundings. The board, however, is not to miss the chance to see Palermo Cathedral, the Catacombs of the Capuchins, the Martorana, the Archaeological Museum in Salinas, the Teatro Massimo and the Botanical Garden.
The most beautiful thing about a holiday in Sicily, and in Palermo, is the ability to enjoy a crystal clear sea and a warm sun during the day and enjoy a great sightseeing tour of the city streets during the afternoon.
To say nothing of the Sicilian cuisine, one of the most popular cuisines in Italy. Don’t worry too much about gaining weight during your visit to Palermo, you are on vacation!
Featured photo credit: © Ken Sparkes All Rights Reserved via sprks.com
