15 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Palermo - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Palermo

Capuchin Monastery Catacombs

Catacombs with thousands of well-dressed mummies.

The Martorana

This mosaic-lined medieval church was built by the world's first admiral and still holds mass in ancient Greek.

San Giovanni degli Eremiti

Behind medieval walls in a corner of bustling Palermo is a breathtaking former mosque once inhabited by a wolf-taming hermit.

Cappella Palatina

Every inch of this chapel is covered in craftsmanship from across the world.

Santuario di Santa Rosalia

Cave shrine on Monte Pellegrino.

Palazzo Chiaramonte

Haunting graffiti left by prisoners of the Spanish Inquisition.

La Zisa

This Arabesque Italian castle was built with a primitive, if ingenious, air-conditioning system.

Porta Nuova

This triumphal 16th-century arched gateway leads to the oldest street in Palermo.

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Stories About Palermo

An <em>Opera dei Pupi</em> heroic knight puppet.

Palermo's Unique, Centuries-Old Puppet Tradition Enters a New Era

The Sicilian city's puppeteers are finding novel ways to keep the art form alive.

by Anna Staropoli

December 10, 2021

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