Seniors Find Palermo Full of Contrasts

Palermo is a city in Insular Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. This city is over 2,700 years old and is abundant in things for seniors to see and do as TripAdvisor discovered.

Palermo lies on Sicily’s northwestern coast at the head of the Bay of Palermo. Inland, the city is enclosed by a fertile plain known as the Conca d’Oro (Golden Shell), which is planted with citrus groves and backed by mountains.

Mount Pellegrino rises to a height of 1,988 feet north of the city. Palermo functions as Sicily’s chief port and center of government and is full of contrasts with Norman, Arabic, Roman, Gothic, and baroque architecture.

Seniors Discover Treasure-Trove

Palermo.com fills in senior travelers with history, things to do, what to see, hotels and much more including a plethora sites each with added details. Be prepared to explore this giant treasure-trove of palaces, castles and churches, displaying unique architectural fusion.

Palermitans, as they are called, have inherited the intriguing looks and social rituals of their multicultural past. Life is full and often a very public, warm-hearted and noisy affair. Lonely Planet invites senior visitors to check out their listing of what you should see and do.  

Palermo is a complex, multilayered city that can easily feel overwhelming if you try to do or see too much. If you only have a day or two, select an area (La Kalsa, with its two museums, for example, or the sprawling markets of Ballaro or Capo).

Palermo has an Old City that built up around the old harbor of La Cala, which expanded north toward Monte Pellegrino. The street plan of the Middle Ages is still in effect in the old parts of town and some say that it’s easy to lose your bearings in the city of 650,000, so bring along a good map or hire a good guide.

I found this site to be not only colorful but extremely helpful with an interactive map, a photo gallery and additional information on Sicily as well as Palermo. Wikitravel is always a great resource.  Italy Heaven fills in FAQs that include Sicilian food and airports.

Seniors Intrigued By Palermo’s History

Palermo’s history has been anything but stable as the town passed from one dominating power to another with remarkable frequency. Its strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean brought wave upon wave of invaders including the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Saracen Arabs, the Normans, the Swabians, the French and the Spanish Bourbons just to name the most influential

The result of this quilted history is evident today in the vast range of architectural styles, the intriguing fusion of ingredients used in many local dishes and in many place names which are obviously not of Italian origin.

Enjoy your visit to Palermo.  jeb