Palermo

On 02 July 2007 our group traveled to Palermo and Monreale. It was about a three hour bus ride both ways, but was well worth it. The city of Palermo is not a luxurious as it once was; however, it still offers visitors a glimpse of its rich history. Palermo is a city that was founded by the Phoenicians in 7th century B.C., and followed by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish. The city’s golden age occurred under Arab rule in the 9th century when it underwent the most significant expansion and had the largest population in all of Europe (100,000). Despite this rich history, the city today is in decay with little restoration taking place. Our tour began at the Sicilian parliament where we were not allowed to take pictures. This building was very ornate; there were paintings on the ceilings and unique rooms that each had special functions. The parliament was connected to a church that was under restoration, but many of the beautiful mosaics were able to be seen. Almost all of the mosques erected by the Arabs had been converted into churches following the re-Christianization of the city. Therefore, noticeable Arabic architectural influences are visible on churches today. My favorite site on the trip was the Quattro Canti or four corners, which is located at the heart of the city at the intersection of Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda. It is a blend of Arabo-Norman and baroque influence. Each of the corners celebrates a season, patron, and Spanish king.