{"id":3486,"date":"2020-10-27T16:42:29","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T15:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicilylifestyle.com\/?p=3486"},"modified":"2021-11-04T09:11:02","modified_gmt":"2021-11-04T08:11:02","slug":"what-to-do-sicily-west-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sicilylifestyle.com\/ru\/what-to-do-sicily-west-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do and see in Sicily’s West Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Second in our online series of Discovering Sicily<\/strong>, we bring you the perfect itinerary for exploring all the beauty hidden in Sicily\u2019s West Coast<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly to our East Coast Sicily itinerary<\/a><\/strong> that\u2019s filled with unforgettable places, a trip to West Coast Sicily<\/strong> is one that you will also likely never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our itinerary begins in Palermo, a place that will stir up and indulge all your senses. After the buzzing city, the charming and quiet medieval town of C\u00e8falu is the perfect relaxing stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then in search of Sicily\u2019s most beautiful beaches, one must take the road only traveled by foot and visit Zingaro Nature Reserve, and last but not least the grand finale of Sicily\u2019s West coast must include lots of delicious local wine and a relaxed pace, hence visiting Marsala last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, let\u2019s beging our adventure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n


Palermo — Colorful and vibrant capital of Sicily<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Palermo is the colorful and vibrant capital of Sicily. A city that\u2019s been a big melting pot of cultures and nationalities<\/strong> over the past centuries; a place that will welcome you with colors, scents, flavors and sounds that overload your senses with a wonderous spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palermo is sometimes wild and rough around the edges, and it undeniably lives by its own rules, so your visit will feel entirely like an adventure of the most exciting kind. You\u2019ll find that Palermo is anything but the stereotypical tourist city with manicured alleyways and expensive souvenir shops, it retains its own authentic rebellious identity \u2013 thankfully so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palermo\u2019s personality is like a kaleidoscope<\/strong>, casting endless different and mesmerizing images and patterns for the viewer, depending from which angle you look at it.
This multi-faceted beauty stems from Palermo\u2019s history of being conquered by dominating empires with remarkable frequency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no shortage of invaders over the centuries, including the Phoenicians<\/strong>, the Carthaginians<\/strong>, the Greeks<\/strong>, the Romans<\/strong>, the Arabs<\/strong>, the Normans<\/strong>, the Swabians<\/strong>, the French<\/strong>, and the Bourbons<\/strong> just to name the most influential. Each making a mark with its own culture and inevitably weaving the complex fabric of Palermo\u2019s society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To experience Palermo<\/a>, you need to adapt the Sicilian spirit of roaming freely. There is no right spot to start your journey of discovery, start walking and you\u2019ll soon bump into treasures all around you. But to help you — here is the list of things you shouldn\u2019t miss!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The markets of Palermo<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Probably the most sensory experiences of Palermo take place at its markets<\/strong>. You\u2019ll be greeted by the vivid colors or fresh fruits and vegetables, choreographed with unintended perfection on vendors\u2019 stalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aroma and perfume of ripe fruit lingers in the air, you can almost taste their sweetness just from breathing it in. All the while vendors shout in their baritone voice, competing for anyone\u2019s but at the same time no one\u2019s attention. It\u2019s the symphony of the Sicilian markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palermo has four main Arabic-heritage street markets, each with its own uniqueness but all carry the same influence of the Arabic souks with their narrow labyrinthine streets, the exotic array of food on display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ballar\u00f2<\/b> is probably the oldest of Palermo\u2019s Arabic markets<\/strong>. You\u2019ll find it abundant with vendors, amazing street food and tucked away trattorias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Capo market<\/b> is another vibrant Arabic market that will lure you in with its colors and scents and noises. No matter which market you choose to visit, or stumble upon, you must sample its produce and try the abundant street-food it offers.One of Palermo\u2019s specialty is panelle<\/strong>, delicious chickpea fritters that can be eaten on their own with some salt and lemon juice, or as a sandwich with some bread and cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adventurous food lovers should try local delicacies like pani ca\u2019 meuza<\/strong>, bread with veal spleen or stigghiola<\/strong>, grilled skewers of onion and veal intestines. To finish the meal, one should try cassata<\/strong>, a rich sponge cake moistened with fruit juices & liqueur and layered with ricotta cheese and candied fruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quattro Canti — The heart of Palermo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Quattro Canti<\/strong> is a breathtaking Baroque square<\/strong> laid out at the converging of the two principal streets in Palermo, the Via Maqueda<\/strong> and the Corso Vittorio<\/strong> Emanuele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The piazza is flanked by four, inward-facing, near-identical facades. Each facade comprising of three tiers \u2013 the first tear representing the four seasons; the second tier dedicated to the four Spanish kings of Sicily; and the third tier depicting the female patrons of Palermo.
It\u2019s an absolutely beautiful sight and one must not miss it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piazza Pretoria and Fontana Pretoria<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Steps away from Quattro Canti, you\u2019ll find Piazza Pretoria<\/b>, home not only to a stunning fountain, but also to several other buildings including the City Hall, the florid baroque Chiesa di Santa Caterina<\/strong> and the 16th century aristocratic Palazzo Bonocore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fontana Pretoria<\/b> depicts the Twelve Olympians<\/strong> (including Bacchus, Mercury, Apollo, Venus and Diana), other mythological figures, animals and the rivers of Palermo. It\u2019s a gorgeous sight, especially viewed from above \u2013 which you\u2019re able to do from the rooftop of neighboring Chiesa di Santa Caterina d\u2019Alessandria<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chiesa di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria and Chiesa del Ges\u00f9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The church itself is incredibly beautiful, a synthesis of Sicilian Baroque<\/strong>, Rococo<\/strong> and Renaissance styles<\/strong> and worth the awe-inspiring visit. You can also tour the rooftop which provides breathtaking views of the city and the fountain below. Another absolutely stunning piece of religious architecture is a stone-throw away — it is Chiesa del Ges\u00f9<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A voluminous Baroque masterpiece built by the Jesuits over an initial period of 14 years, between 1564 and 1578. The church served as a model for innumerable Jesuit churches all over the world, especially in the Americas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palazzo Gangi<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sumptuous interior can be found at Palazzo Gangi. The palazzo was the ancestral home first of the Princes Valguarnera<\/strong> and then of the Princes Gangi<\/strong>. Unlike many palazzos of Palermo, Palazzo Gangi survived the neglect and bombings of 1943 and it retained its baroque architectural structure and interiors almost untouched, including the furnishings that are the finest examples of Sicilian craftsmanship.
In 1963 the palazzo, and most memorably its ballroom, were the setting for Luchino Visconti’s iconic film’ Il Gattopardo (The Leopard)<\/strong>. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To visit Palazzo Gangi, contact us<\/a><\/strong> and we can organize a private tour for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palermo Arab-Norman Architecture<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Palermo\u2019s nine Arab-Norman style buildings and cathedrals were granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status<\/a><\/strong>. These stunning buildings are «an outstanding example of a socio-cultural syncretism between Western, Islamic, and Byzantine cultures. This interchange gave rise to an architectural and artistic expression based on novel concepts of space, structure, and decoration that spread widely throughout the Mediterranean region…<\/i> \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palermo Cathedral<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most stunning examples of this style is the Palermo Cathedral<\/b>. You cannot miss the imposing building and its cupola that presides over the Palermo skyline. The architecture of the cathedral is the perfect example of Palermo\u2019s long history of conquering empires \u2013 the foundation of the church began as a Byzantine basilica and was later turned into a mosque by the Saracens<\/strong> after their conquest of the city in the 9th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bell tower was a medieval addition, and the Catalan Gothic<\/strong> porch records Sicily’s Spanish domination, while the cupolas bring us up to the Baroque age. The spaces around the cathedral, including the piazza in front, meanwhile, are crowded with statues, an exhaustive repertoire of saints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worthy of the UNESCO World Heritage title, the cathedral is worth a visit.<\/strong> You can sit on the piazza in front and take in the magnificent architecture while enjoying a gelato or espresso. One of our favorite recommendations is to take the rooftop tour of the cathedral. You get to marvel the cupola up-close and take in the bird\u2019s eye view of Palermo from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Palazzo dei Normammi and Teatro Massimo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the cathedral, continue up Corso Vittorio Emanuele<\/strong>, past the splendid Piazza Vittoria (with its high-rise collection of palm trees), under the 16th century Porta Nuova (built to commemorate the visit of Charles V), and on to Piazza Indipendenza<\/strong>, home of the Palazzo dei Normanni<\/strong> \u2013 the Norman Palance. The palace has been the seat of Sicilian Kings and rulers since the Arabs built a castle there in the 9th century, and currently home to Sicily’s regional parliament<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s hard to count how many more beautiful places you should visit while in Palermo, so we leave it up to your sight-seeing appetite. We would however encourage you to stop by Teatro Massimo<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teatro Massimo is the third largest opera house in Europe<\/strong>, many of the opera world\u2019s most famous stars performed here- including Gigli, Di Stefano, Maria Callas<\/strong> and Pavarotti<\/strong>.
The theatre is open to the public for guided tours and we recommend a visit to admire its wonderful Liberty style frescoes, its elegant salons, and, most importantly, the sumptuously decorated arena itself.
To one side of its impressive steps, under the gaze of a brass lion, is the theatre’s al fresco caf\u00e9, the perfect spot to enjoy a drink while watching the world go by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also love La Kalsa<\/b> — one of Palermo’s most ancient quarters. It takes its name from the Arabic Khalisa, meaning pure, and was the main commercial center when the city was under Arab dominion. Take a stroll around and we guarantee there is no shortage of beauty to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C\u00e8falu — The energy that recharges your soul<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just one hour’s drive east of Palermo<\/strong>, sitting serenely between its natural bay and the towering rocky granite mass of La Rocca, is Cefal\u00f9<\/strong>. It\u2019s a small town but contains an incredible amount of quiet energy that recharges your soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In C\u00e8falu, you\u2019ll instantly take on the slower pace and romantic atmosphere of Sicily<\/strong>. With its sandy beaches<\/strong>, narrow charming Medieval streets and fantastic restaurants it\u2019s the perfect spot for a romantic getaway or a family vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a day spent sunbathing and working on your Mediterranean tan, you can grab an aperitivo at the main square in front of the C\u00e8falu Cathedral<\/strong> sitting on the cushioned stairs of Medieval buildings, watching the world go by at slow motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"View<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re the active type making the ascent of La Rocca<\/strong> can present the perfect challenge (especially in the hot summer months) but is an absolute must: the views are spectacular and you can also marvel at the walls of the old Saracen stronghold and the remains of a Temple of Diana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directly south of Cefal\u00f9 is the wonderful Madonie National Park <\/strong><\/a>with its charming villages and towns, such as Castelbuono, its delightful scenery, its impressive mountains and some wonderful walking. If you make it to Castelbuono, make sure to stop by the famous Fiasconaro<\/a><\/strong> pastry shop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and try their delicious biscuits and panettone<\/strong>, which are also made for Dolce & Gabbana<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n