There are two roads that bisect Palermo. Via Vittorio Emanuele is the one that runs from the gate at the harbor (Porta Felice), through the Quattro Canti, past the Cattedrale di Palermo and then to the Porta Nuova. It is the oldest street in Palermo and city maps show it as early as the Civitates orbis terrarum from 1572-1617. The name comes from the Arabic name of "Cassaro at Qasr" meaning "the fortress" and of course, Victor Emmanuel II was the King of Sardinia and became the king of the united Italy so the street has that name in his honor.
The road goes uphill from the port to the cathedral so it's much easier to start at the top and go to the bottom even if it is a gentle slope. Lots of shopping, sights and destinations. Restaurants and bars and places to stop for a snack or drink.
Of course, the highlights are the Quattro Canti and the cathedral. The street is narrow enough that no matter the time of day, there is shade on one sidewalk or the other. There is limited automobile traffic but you definitely need to be on the lookout for bicycles.
[Review 12795 overall, 109 of 2020.] read more