Mosaics, mummies and markets: the highlights of a thousand-culture city.
Palermo's showpieces line up along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the old spine of the city: the royal palace at one end, the cathedral mid-way and the sea at the other, with the markets spilling off to the sides.
The dazzling 12th-century chapel of Roger II inside the Palazzo dei Normanni, shimmering with Byzantine mosaics and a carved wooden ceiling of muqarnas. Official site.
Tip: Go early - the light on the mosaics is at its best before the tour groups arrive.
Official site →The great cathedral, layered with centuries of styles, holding the tombs of the Norman kings and queens. Climb to the roof terraces for the best view over the old city. Official site.
Tip: The rooftop walk is worth every step - book the terraces ticket.
Official site →Italy's largest opera house, opened in 1897 and immortalised in the final scene of The Godfather - tours reveal the lavish auditorium and stage machinery. Official site.
Tip: Try to catch a performance; the acoustics are famous.
Official site →Underground corridors where hundreds of mummified friars and citizens rest, many still dressed in their clothes - a unique and sobering window on Palermo's past. Official site.
Tip: Slightly out of the centre - take a bus or short taxi ride.
Official site →The octagonal Baroque square where the city's two main streets cross, framed by statues of the seasons, the Spanish kings and the patron saints.
Tip: Stand in the middle and spin slowly - every facade faces you.
The oldest and liveliest street market, a swirl of stalls, noise and street food in the Albergheria district - Palermo's open-air kitchen.
Tip: Come hungry, and let the stallholders tempt you.