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All Italy Palermo

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Palermo

15 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Palermo, Italy

Updated August 14, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Palermo

Palermo, Italy

Capuchin Monastery Catacombs

Thousands of well-dressed mummies below a monastery.
The interior.

Palermo, Italy

The Martorana

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

Palermo, Italy

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.
Palazzo Chiaramonte graffiti.

Palermo, Italy

Palazzo Chiaramonte

Haunting graffiti left by prisoners of the Spanish Inquisition.
The apse with the Christ Pantocrator.

Palermo, Italy

Cappella Palatina

Every inch of this chapel is covered in craftsmanship from across the world.
The Santuario Facade on Monte Pellegrino. (Creative Commons)

Palermo, Italy

Santuario di Santa Rosalia

Cave shrine on Monte Pellegrino.
Porta Nuova

Palermo, Italy

Porta Nuova

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

Palermo, Italy

La Zisa

This Arabesque Italian castle was built with a primitive, if ingenious, air-conditioning system.
See All 15 Things To Do in Palermo
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Explore Palermo, Italy

Sacred Spaces 7
Churches 4
Architectural Oddities 3
Religion 3
History 3
Military 2
Art 2
Medieval 2
Mosaics 2
War History 2

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Stories About Palermo

An Opera dei Pupi 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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