My views of the Sicilian capital:

Politeama:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/4082361571_0e22bda1dd_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4083119972_658bcc528b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3496/4083120944_46c886e2e9_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4082365107_bd55e5f1fd_o.jpg

San Domenico:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/4082363091_575d39025a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/4083122442_7983fc56c6_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4083392985_e28beb269d_o.jpg

The Vucciria market:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/4082363503_69655459fd_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/4083122800_69b3bd4211_o.jpg

The back alleys and run-down areas:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4082363969_392ecf397d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/4083121944_c65f466fb9_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/4084153710_6e9737736b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/4084153478_4091485976_o.jpg

Spacious Via Roma:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/4082363803_86717416b2_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/4083123306_52865d8bdd_o.jpg

A lively street:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2553/4083122110_90139c1369_o.jpg

Architecture from the fascist era:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4083121110_1f8dedc913_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4083121588_0692e4978d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2693/4083121730_642afac3f0_o.jpg

Teatro Massimo:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/4083121278_1220f3e589_o.jpg

By night:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/4083124372_6c82b4c29c_o.jpg

Piazza Verdi in front of the theatre:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2660/4083121426_609be7394f_o.jpg

Massive church:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/4082364279_a12efc909e_o.jpg

Fontana Pretoria:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/4083124042_1f5260e950_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4083123760_565206f846_o.jpg

City Hall:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4082364457_3e4980ca52_o.jpg

more to come.....

A much needed thread! Good examples of urban beauty and neglect.

Interesting pictures!

It looks nice. Is it safe there?

The photos dont really portray it as a pretty city, the streetscape looks very poor and squalid. Are there nicer areas in the city?

Great, beautiful photos from Palermo city :)

Thanks Christos, edubejar, MunichPictures1970 for your compliments....stay tuned as there is more to come.

It looks nice. Is it safe there?

No worries, I felt as safe in Palermo as in any other large Italian city I have been to.

The photos dont really portray it as a pretty city, the streetscape looks very poor and squalid. Are there nicer areas in the city?

I find the Fontana Pretoria, Politeama, Teatro Massimo, the churches and surroundings to be quite beautiful, but there are more photographs to come.

The streetscape that you see as poor and squalid is very vibrant though and one of the more fascinating aspects of Palermo for me.

Nice buildings and a bit depressing city for the decaying state of it.

Thanks for the pictures.

More streetscapes from the city centre: from solid looking baroque buildings to narrow streets with laundry hanging from the balconies.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4085642471_f891124d4b_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4085432309_ce76dde2f0_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/4086189438_cf35bb3ece_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/4086189080_10e999bf7e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/204/4085432539_f43109bfb0_o.jpg

Example of the lack of valorization of Palermo's historic patrimony: ugly commercial sign in front of the arabesque San Cataldo:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/4085434439_c9dbca3948_o.jpg

A nicer shot of San Cataldo and the Martorana from the Norman period:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/4086191618_b8f331e845_o.jpg

The austere interior of San Cataldo (built between 1154 and 1160):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4086191374_85fddbc7f3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4085433781_58600cbb2a_o.jpg

The far more decorated interiors of the the Martorana (1143):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/4086729860_9cdbdf153e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4085433579_54a57b9ce8_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/4085433109_e0ffb906ec_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2647/4086190758_e05babe00f_o.jpg

The photos dont really portray it as a pretty city, the streetscape looks very poor and squalid. Are there nicer areas in the city?

:omg:

There are some of the worldwide most important baroque examples.
A mix of arabesque and european culture.

One of the biggest historical city centers of Europe, with so many noticable Churches, buildings and squares...

The fact it's so dirty is another point...

Great thread. I would like to visit the city once.
Is it a nice city to walk around, or is there too much traffic always and everywhere?

nice thread!

Bella città. :)

Great thread. I would like to visit the city once.
Is it a nice city to walk around, or is there too much traffic always and everywhere?

The traffic around the city is absolutely insane by our standards but it's not really a problem when you're exploring the historic centre, there are a lot of small streets and squares whithout traffic. I tought it was much worse in Messina with it's broad streets. You just have to expect a lot of chaos in Sicily but it adds to the lively atmosfere ;)

Great photos.
Looks very lively and vibrant but I suppose in the narrow streets the heat in summer is hard to bear.

Great thread. I would like to visit the city once.
Is it a nice city to walk around, or is there too much traffic always and everywhere?

You can walk around easily or use the bus. I wouldn't suggest driving inside the city unless you are used to chaotic driving and have solid nerves :D

Another photograph of San Domenico:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4090967944_1d5dcc684c_o.jpg

Two of the Quattro Canti: the baroque 4 corners honoring four Spanish kings, 4 palermitan saints, and the 4 rivers that originally criss-crossed the city:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/4090283315_34f3c1f2d0_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/4090968222_0ed92fd9fb_o.jpg

.....more to come.....

Awesome pictures, and I agree, the city appears quite vibrant and active.

city looks very interesting 2 visit! very lively, with beautiful architectural gems!

is it really too dirty?

The Ballaró market in Palermo: a large open air market with all sorts of foods. Unfortunately the pictures communicate only a part of its charm. The other are the smells and sounds of the sellers loudly advertising their products.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/4093859182_773190536d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/4093094413_721bef249d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/4093093605_17171a8db1_o.jpg

A knife grinder's shop:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/4093860764_d348351b53_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4093094685_b3eb33bb14_o.jpg

The streets around the market. Walking around the street near the market a car was "strolling" at walking pace and an umbrella-repairment was advertising his services :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2647/4093859456_1536c6ba34_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/4093094181_57c8973bc1_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/4093095401_9deba9fb8e_o.jpg

Palermo seems to be a very nice city with lots of history and vibrant street life.

Controlled chaos. Very nice examples of beautiful architecture and the raw street scene. Thank you!

More street scenes of old Palermo:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/4109567511_4149b69e42_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4109567911_03602c5237_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2593/4110332702_bffa4e0a3d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4110334778_d214e56a9b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4109567729_600d4fdb0a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/4109568447_b23706eccd_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/4109569129_b72186285a_o.jpg

Decorated entrances with religious portrait on the side:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2504/4110334222_448e6203f4_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/4109570011_6c8f739c13_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/4109569433_6afa9a650d_o.jpg

though i love the architecture of the city, i dont like the flea markets, they look like the ones in Bolivia or Ecuador

The cathedral:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4117602251_0989038af3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4118372864_231e8d90ff_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4117602055_b63db411e6_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/4118373210_f24b133dbc_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4117603173_38361ba540_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/4118373868_eb91e72249_o.jpg

Sicilian Ape :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/4118372362_a9059b6528_o.jpg

Citizens, protects your parks:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4117603611_01d3dc8821_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4118374308_80d7908d3e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/4117604103_341ddb0f44_o.jpg

Thanks for the pictures urbane! Are these photos from this year? I have been in Palermo in Summer 2004 and heard that there were plans for a huge renovation program of the old town in 2005/2006. Unfortunately judging from your pictures it seems that basically nothing has changed since my visit. :(

I have also been to nearby Monreale with its splendid cathedral (lots of gold mosaic inside!) and always enjoyed the stay at Mondello beach (a suburb of Palermo).

Thank you for this thread, urbane! Sicily is such an awesome place to visit. :cheers:

lol nice pictures... some of them I found them to be comical...thanks for sharing :okay:

fantastic!! good atmosphere

I went to Palermo in 2004, and sadly enough I couldn't fully appreciate the architectural beauties of the city, just because of the neglect and chaos. It was the first time I went to Italy, and I had so much expectations. I really didn't expect so much ugliness (in the suburbs) and such urban decay and filt on the streets. But I have to say I was only seventien at that time, so maybe today I could enjoy the chaos a little more. But still, it is a shame, simply because there is so much to see.

Beautiful pictures, thanks!

^^ There is a good amount of dirtiness and blight overall. However, that varies amongst the neighborhoods. The northern part of the city centre is clean, so are some of the tourist attractions (though not all). In general I liked to photograph the conditions of the working class neighborhoods of the city center, which tend to be dirtier, as well as the more well known attractions of the city.

Thanks for the pictures urbane! Are these photos from this year? I have been in Palermo in Summer 2004 and heard that there were plans for a huge renovation program of the old town in 2005/2006. Unfortunately judging from your pictures it seems that basically nothing has changed since my visit. :(

I have also been to nearby Monreale with its splendid cathedral (lots of gold mosaic inside!) and always enjoyed the stay at Mondello beach (a suburb of Palermo).

There are some renovated building in the city center: but the task is quite monumental given the size of Palermo's historic centre.

Monreale will be coming up on the thread :)

More photographs of Palermo:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2624/4128607437_fcc77338fc_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/4129376144_24009670b1_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4129375224_95fe2ac93a_o.jpg

Gutted out:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/4129377170_97daa022e8_o.jpg

The city looks nice.

A very charming and nice city, keep those photo coming.

Interesting and very nice photos of Palermo in above photos

Hi to everybody, thanks for the compliments, Palermo is a city from the thousand faces, preserve still different architectures of the various dominations, that melt him between them in perfect symbiosis, innumerable churches of different style can be admired, from the Baroque one, to the Norman one, Byzantine, siculo-Norman, Gothic-Catalan, Arab, Gothic, Baroque-Roman, the city can be considered a sky open museum.
Palermo boasts a secular history, every angle of the city tells a piece of history, the city has a vast historical center, and for this and also for the carelessness of various administrations, lately however the city is changing face and many monuments, ancient noble buildings, are (in the city they are as) in phase of recovery, the city is in continuous restauration, and it is a true miracle for us palermitani, we go from there fierce.
On the Italian forum, there is a devoted thread really to the restauration of the architectural patrimony in Palermo, taken care of by Maqveda, and from so many others that the city loves in which they live, and that they fight so that return in everything of its shine, are certain that the very interesting threads you will find, also because you have the possibility to notice the before and the later, in everything the threads they are 10, therefore you imagine how much has been done and how much to do is still. You are been inserted some maps numbered with relative interventions of restauration.
I glue you the link, I hope to insert soon some photos in Palermo to make you know other angles of the city :)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=985282

Beautiful photos!

Very nice new shots of Palermo :)

nice composistion of your photos.
this is an amazing sicilian city.

nice shots of a nice city :)

Urbane thanks for the photos, I insert some image:
Building of the Norman ones or Royal building, with attached done Palatine Chapel to build from King Ruggiero II in 1132, the treasures and the mosaics that can be admired they have left dumbfounded all (for their great wealth) the visitors. Today it is center of the Sicilian regional parliament (ARS), over the astronomic observatory in Palermo "Joseph S. Vaiana."
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/3519508957_dfe0c48040_b.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/3213318677_6ea2b17018_b.jpg

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http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/3213133685_9af06e94ac_b-1.jpg

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http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/4hdazvq.jpg

New brings, attached to the building of the Norman ones, one of the ancient doors of entry in the city.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/Palermo-Porta-Nuova-bjs-1.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/Palermo-09-1.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/Portanuova_1.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/tixxi75/dicembre2005004zv7.jpg
Photo from Flickr

Caotic and magic city.

Ciao.

Back from taking a SSC posting break.

More photos of Palermo's streetscapes:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/4129376386_bd6087ae74_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/4128607187_fcaae8cb8b_o.jpg

One of the many religious dedications from the faithful to be found in Palermo, this one from 1870 says " Stop here traveler, and praise Santa Rosalia"....of course it sounds better in Italian as it rhymes.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4129374974_04ab66cff7_o.jpg

Kids playing on the street:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/4129374424_8b97113daf_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/4128605327_7931a51bd0_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/4128607647_9d977630eb_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4335909456_f726938ce3_b.jpg

The neighborhood of Acquasanta in Palermo, which is where my ancestors came from: almost like a village inside the city, located in front of the shipyards.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4335166571_5976352d46_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4335910350_9e4fe1fce2_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/4335909688_3c3e12bb83_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4335166865_a37ddcf6ca_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4335910586_fd552afc42_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4335167489_b56172d94c_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4335912028_074d2c2228_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4335168947_e20c6f6fef_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/4335168231_f78e3ef790_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4335911152_a39d14f06d_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4335167675_b7106285fe_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4335911300_53f8c3ba52_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4335914516_4955f4fd91_o.jpg

some photos of palermo remind me of Tel Aviv... I suppose it's the Mediterranean style :)

Great pics! Reminds of Marseille and Napoli, also beautiful, but worn cities. I have heard Palermo is pretty dangerous.

Great photos.

Fantastic thread big thanks for putting it together. I loved Naples and I am planning a trip to Palermo, infact Palermo seems quite similar to Naples ; the architecture, the hanging laundry and those shrines to the saints (theres one to Maradona in Naples :D). Great!

Is it difficult to get to Etna from Palermo?

Will be there this Sunday! Will post loads of pics

Very interesting place, I liked, some areas in Palermo make me remember, some places in latin america, but with less historical zones, maybe for influence of italian colonies.

I really want to visit Palermo. What a great city.

absolutely an amazing photo tour of historical Palermo.

is Palermo in general really dirty? do the municipality do something with it?

Wow, incredibly beautiful city. It doesn't matter if the streets are dirty or buildings not renovated, city has some true European style.

Great shots! thanks for sharing. It has somehow the charm of this cities that have so much patrimony that they don´t really take care of it. I would not say I prefer it like that, but it feels really natural ;)

Really interesting. I'd like to visit the italian south one day. I've only been to Bari and Napoli so far.

Nice city. It would improve with a little more care of the facades. Like someone said it reminds me to Naples and Marsaille. Very nice pictures.

Very interesting city .
The churches from inside look rather like orthodox than catholic ones .

Some pictures of Palermo's harbour and the area around it:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4667259542_7beecd22c0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667259542/) P5020392 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667259542/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1301/4667257588_1cbab4ed9c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667257588/) P5020361 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667257588/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

Abandoned buidling of the Finacantieri shipyards:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4667258426_8b00c8e7f6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667258426/) P5020369 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667258426/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4667258666_f531d2b47c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667258666/) P5020373 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667258666/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/4666636441_7b7dfb9bea_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4666636441/) P5020362 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4666636441/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

Dogs roaming around:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4666637773_ebe42db8a6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4666637773/) P5020385 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4666637773/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

A wing of the Ucciardone: Palermo's infamous jail

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4666638381_7899dd2598_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4666638381/) P5020396 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4666638381/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

Informal economy: a vegetables vendor and an 'office' for getting your car inspection and driving permit:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4667258144_6459fb6e02_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667258144/) P5020368 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667258144/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4667259978_a2143e91b8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667259978/) P5020403 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28993323@N08/4667259978/) by urbane@SSC (http://www.flickr.com/people/28993323@N08/), on Flickr

I'm so excited to have discovered this thread. I find Palermo such a thrilling city.

Your pictures of The Martorana are wonderful.

When I visited the Capella Palatina, I cried. It was, and remains, the most beautiful interior I have ever seen.

I like those cities that are on the edge: with fantastic pasts, now faded - but with so much future potential: Naples, Marseilles, Liverpool - now on the up - please check out my thread!

:cheers: Make mine a glass of wine!

Can't say I like it. Stray dogs, dirt, decaying houses? Doesn't look like city in first world country.

great shots liking them.

Interesting thread...

Very interesting and very nice updates from Palermo :)

reminds me of Athens in many ways