Palermo

Palermo's origins date back to prehistoric times and it is considered to be the most ancient town of all Sicily. In 1953, the archaeologist Bovio Marconi found some rupestral drawings and engravings in the Addaura Caves. Between the 19th and 20th century Palermo enjoyed a period of economic prosperity, thanks to illustrious entrepreneurs such as Florio, Ingham and Withaker. During and after the two World Wars, the town played a secondary role in the Italian scenario. Palermo lies between Monte Pellegrino e Capo Zafferano, in the Conca d'Oro valley, in one of the most suggestive bays of the Mediterranean sea. Palermo has a population of around 700,000 inhabitants and it is an important economic centre not only for Sicily, but for the whole country. Palermo is also an important commercial centre with African countries, especially with Islamic countries thanks to its old economic and cultural relationships with these countries. Palermo has known a great urban expansion due also to the improvement of its road network that facilitated the movement of tourists. The city is well connected with Northern Europe and Africa thanks to its international airport of Punta Raisi and a convenient rail network and maritime lines that support the development of the so called "intelligent tourism". Hotel reservation in Palermo and other Italian cities. The most interesting sights to be visited are historical buildings such as the Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace) which houses the Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), the Cathedral, the Zisa Palace, the Church of SS. Salvatore and the Church of San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi, Porta Nuova and the Ponte dell'Ammiraglio. Other remakable buildings are the theatres dating back to the 19th century such as the Teatro Massimo, designed by Giovan Battista Basile and completed by his son, Ernesto Basile; the Teatro Politeama, designed by the engineer Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda.