car hire Palermo

Palermo, a prominent city on Sicily's northwest coast, was first settled by the Phoenicians in the 8th century B.C. when they installed a trading post in the region. The following centuries saw Palermo fall victim to a countless string of invasions, but when it came under Norman rule in 1072, the city was set to enter its golden era. At this point, Palermo earned a reputation as a place of benevolent religious tolerance, with Christians, Jews, and Muslims all living harmoniously in the area. Palermo's great years reached their zenith when it was named capital of the Holy Roman Empire in 1208.

But when power and influence shifted to Naples after a string of leadership shakeups, Palermo began a long slide that didn't stop for many years. The last resounding blow came when the city was bombed repeatedly during World War II. Then the Mafia took up residence and flourished in the second half of the 1900s. But around the end of the century, Palermo's leadership began an aggressive plan to reduce the criminal element, as well as beautify and restore some of its historic sections of town.

If the hectic, urban spirit of Palermo has you looking for a breather, many on holiday find a restorative escape in a hire-car drive to nearby Monte Pellegrino. (Palermo International Airport offers convenient hire-car pick-up.) Pellegrino's peak is only a 15-kilometre drive from the city, and once you've ascended it, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramas of old Palermo, as well as excellent views of the Conca d'Oro coast. Santuario di Santa Rosalia, where Palermo's patron saint resided, is a popular stop up on the mountain too.

Often likened to a bazaar, Palermo's shopping districts are quite a sensory experience, and walking through the markets is a great way to get a feel for local life in this city. La Vucciria is the most well-known market, with its casbah-like atmosphere and overloaded stands of all types of seafood and meats, not to mention an imposing array of produce picked from the generous Sicilian countryside. Another favorite shopping area is found at Via Principe di Belmonte. This no-car zone is a great place to browse swank and hip boutiques and shops.