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

The "Teatro dei Pupi Siciliani", which means Sicilian Puppet Theatre in English, is one of the few…read morepuppet theatres still in existence. The long-standing family business is run by an older gentleman, his daughter and a close relative. In addition to the performance, in some cases it is possible to take a look behind the stage. A little "chatting" about the history of puppet theatre is very interesting. All figures are self-built and some of them have features like drawing a sword or spitting smoke. The figures are mostly played with sticks and ropes. In the small workshop next to the auditorium you can create and repair the figures.

Teatro Argento is a family run business. They present a puppet show in the old style. This is 30…read moreminutes of pure entertainment that should be on every visitor's list in Palermo. The language is Italian but even without knowing the language one can follow the adventures of knights and kings, and watch fights, sometimes involving dragons and decapitations! The craft and effort involved in this show can only be appreciated when Papa emerges after the show with one of the puppets, which weighs up to 10 kgs, and you wonder how they manipulate them so easily.

Completed in 1897, Teatro Massimo is the third largest opera house in Europe, designed by the famed…read morePalermitano architect Basile in a neo-classical style, reminiscent of the Greek ruins at Agrigento. The gilded auditorium, in a late-Renaissance style, features 7 tiers and seats 1350. The theater follows a traditional "stagione" season, with offerings of ballet and opera. Perhaps its most famous cameo, Teatro Massimo was featured in Francis Ford Coppola's film "Godfather III." I saw a production here with the great Mirella Freni towards the end of her long career. Orchestra sounded rather scrappy, but were warmed up by the second act. Also lovely were the plush armchair-style seats in the parquet. Acoustics were great! Tours are offered regularly, in English, Spanish, and Italian. They are brief (20 minutes) and do not go backstage. Photos are prohibited, until you reach the Royal Box (its a beautiful view). Highly recommended!

A large group of people, friends and relatives, came together to create a meeting place for…read moretheatre, music and dance in Palermo. Today they have a wonderful space in an old industry building close to the center of the city. A serie of concerts and arrangements are now running weekly. I had the great pleasure to be there two nights in a row. The first was dedicated to theatre and dance and the following night there were bands and solo artists performing. Those who come in here to take the stage are professionals, so there is great value for money. But overall you meet interesting and warmhearted Palermo-friends to talk to and to share your life's experiences with. Now, the perspective with Spazio Franco (Free Room, my translation) is not only limited to Palermo. It reaches out to the whole of Sicily and the rest of the country. It is obvious that a place like this is needed. Both evenings were fully booked. More than three times the seats available. But no problem. We walked in and out through the night. Everybody had their chance to enjoy what was going on. The morning sun met me as I walked home to the awakening of the city.

2009. S. and I…read morewander from one piazza to another. Palermo puts its piazzas to work. They're parking lots and garbage dumps. Soccer fields and picnic grounds. They're a place where you can get a drink, break up with your boyfriend, and tune up your motor scooter. S. and I find a table in front of Exit. The bartender is blasting Suicidal Tendencies and wearing a Descendents t-shirt (Milo Goes to College). While we're sitting there, a motorcycle cop (or maybe he's a hunky male stripper in a motorcycle cop costume; it's hard to tell the difference in this town) zooms by with his flashers on and blocks the street. Then out of nowhere, a marching band appears: a dozen guys in white dress shirts banging on drums and tooting trumpets and trombones. A few more guys bring up the rear with a little cart that has a statue of a saint teetering on top. The parade pulls up in front of the church at the corner. As the band plays on, traffic backs up in the street, because Palermo is a town where saints cause traffic jams. One of the trombonists lights some fireworks: black cats and spark fountains. The street fills up with smoke and the smell of black powder: a little bit war zone, a little bit Fourth of July. Through the smoke, I see a couple people climb onto the roof of the church and dump big plastic garbage bags full of confetti onto the crowd below. Then they dump a bag full of balloons which drift down onto the fireworks and pop. Once the mayhem reaches an acceptable pitch, the guys in charge of the saint hoist him on their shoulders and usher him into the church. This saintly mission accomplished, the motorcycle cop revs his motor and zooms away, followed by a swarm of motor scooters who've been waiting impatiently for the show to end. The scooters all open their throttles at the same moment, which rattles the beer bottles on our table. A little later, the guys in the marching band wander over to the bar where we're sitting and install themselves at a half-dozen tables. Up close, the band looks kind of sketchy. Like the kind of guys who might crack open your skull with a bass drum mallet if you looked at them funny. They order a round of beers, then another round after that.

I found this adorable shop near Hotel Opera Plaza in Palermo. Vintage 1950's & 1960's clothing and…read moremore. Small rack of retro clothing, beautiful well made bathing suits, interesting art work, refurbished radios, cameras. The clothes are new, never worn, styled from the era. A little closet boutique filled with treasures to own!