Palermo

Palermo is a commercial, traffic-congested city, but there are some very interesting places to see both within the city and on its outskirts. The most dramatic sightseeing excursion (just 8 kilometers south of Palermo) is to visit Monreale, an awesome cathedral built by William II in 1174. It seems that William II was visited in a dream by an angel who told him of a secret treasure, and with his new-found wealth he built Monreale, one of the world’s greatest medieval monuments. From the outside, the cathedral doesn’t look special, but just wait: the interior is stunning. When you step inside you find 130 panels of shimmering mosaic, illustrating stories from both the Old and the New Testaments. The bronze doors of the cathedral are spectacular, designed by Bonanno Pisano in the 12^th century. This is a cathedral not to be missed. Another sight near Palermo is Monte Pellegrino, a 600-meter mountain rising on the west edge of the city. There are several caves in the mountain. The Grotta di Addaura is a three-chamber cave with carvings dating to the Paleolithic Age. Another cave has been transformed into a chapel, the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia, commemorating Santa Rosalia, the niece of King William II, who became a hermit—living and dying in this cave. You need to obtain permission from the National Archaeological Museum in Palermo if you want to visit these caves.Another recommended side trip from Palermo is to visit the ancient fishing village of Cefalù built on a rocky peninsula about an hour’s drive east from Palermo. Not only is this a very colorful fishing village, complete with brightly-hued boats and twisting narrow streets, but there is also a splendid Norman Cathedral built by King Roger II in the 12^th century in fulfillment of a promise he made to God for sparing his life during a storm at sea.