Palermo

Palermo is the capital of the autonomous region of Sicily, Italy, and the chief city of the Metropolitan City of Palermo. It sits on the northwest coast of Sicily, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, and serves as a major port and economic and cultural center.

The city was founded by Phoenicians in the 8th century BCE and, under the name Panormos, grew as a key Mediterranean trading hub. It passed through Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab rule; in the 11th–12th centuries it became an important seat of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and a melting pot of cultures, which left a distinct architectural legacy. The modern name Palermo is Italian, with Balarm as its historic Arab form.

Palermo preserves a rich mix of Arab-Norman, Byzantine, Baroque and Gothic styles. The Norman Palace and its Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo, the churches of San Cataldo and Santa Maria La Martorana, and the Quattro Canti square are among its notable monuments. The Teatro Massimo, one of Italy's largest opera houses, anchors the city's cultural life. Palermo is also renowned for vibrant street markets such as Ballarò and La Vucciria and for its street foods.

The city is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale, recognized for its unique synthesis of Arab, Norman and Christian cultures.

The port of Palermo is a major gateway for trade and passenger traffic, and the city is a hub for services, commerce and tourism. It is served by Falcone-Borsellino Airport and a railway network linking to the wider Sicilian and Italian networks.