We were incredibly lucky to have Teatro Massimo di Palermo literally on our doorstep. The…read morearchitecture is stunning and absolutely photo-worthy. It's also famous from The Godfather Part III, where the assassination of Apollonia was filmed. We loved passing by day and night, always catching a new angle. Overall, it's a must-see and an easy stop while exploring Palermo. Saluti

Historical Teatro Massimo, Godfather 3 movie, one of the main scenes was filmed here, the feeling…read moreis amazing, the energy is dynamic. Sitting on those steps and just enjoying the atmosphere is a very unique experience. There are lots of shops and restaurants around it, in the heart of the Palermo, old and new are mixed and that gives the city a beautiful view , the whole street is filled with shops and carts where you can buy all sorts of gifts , souvenirs and memorabilia. People in general are nice, and kind of rule of thumb, the fancier the restaurant, the snobbier is the service lol we tried both: fancy and mom and pops eateries, one of the best to try is Dal Pompiere. In general, Sicilia is amazing

Our fault for going on an organized tour that walked too quickly through the halls and without…read morebeing able to hear much of what the guide was saying through the headsets they handed us on the bus ride over. If you can hook up with a tour of maybe 5-6 others and a guide that's probably ideal, or if you don't mind not knowing much about the who and why you are ogling, then go on your own to take in a fascinatingly freaky experience.

My husband and I had visited ossuaries and catacombs in other countries and thought we would visit…read morethis well known one in Palermo. While he has a tough stomach, he wanted to leave ASAP. Agree with others that this may not be for everyone, especially for younger children. There are a series of rooms, some of which are categorized by the occupation (members of the Capuchin order, who originally were the only people to be interred there) and others by age or gender. It is disarming to see a room designated entirely to children and babies. In addition, it is even more disarming to see some of the "residents" in considerably better condition, which is attributable to different embalming techniques. The site appears to still be run by the Capuchins, as a monk sold us our tickets. No pictures to post because signs ask you not to take any and also in deference to the deceased. 8/8

Fantastic selection of goods mostly made by a boyfriend/girlfriend team. There are some really…read morenice styles here, especially if you're into really interesting stones. The designs are elegantly simple, making for some very nice wearable jewelry that is less gaudy than most of the other shops we looked into. Also, if you're an instrument, there are a lot of stringed instruments (mostly guitars and ukuleles) made from recycled items like cigar boxes and wine boxes that are really cool.

We drove a small car from Palermo to Erice and made a stop at the Castle of Venus. Clearly posted…read morehours for this time of year said that on Friday then open at 10:00am but even by 10:30, the doors were locked and there was no one else about. I'm not sure what's going on, so perhaps you should expect similar. It's Italy, maybe they're on strike. Even without access to the castle, there is a lot of walking around the peak of the parapets here. Amazing views down to the village and the roadways. I'm impressed that I managed to drive up here successfully! A tremendous amount of history here. This castle dates back to the 12th century when the Normans used the stones of the temple to build this castle. It is surrounded with a lovely English-style garden that is complete with monuments to various Sicilians and Italians throughout history, park benches and walkways. [Review 12803 overall, 117 of 2020.]