Palermo in May is full of sun, cars and sea fans: for two weeks the Mondello beach hosts the International Beach Festival, and the city hosts the Targa Florio rally. A pleasant pastime can be complemented by walks in the botanical garden, shopping, as well as a look at the sights of Palermo.
Weather
The best time to explore Palermo's historical wealth is spring: the alleys are buried in bloom, filling the city with magical aromas. In May, the air temperature is 20-22 ° C, the weather is mostly sunny. Off the coast of Palermo, the air warms up a little more, the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea are comfortable for swimming.
International Beach Festival (World Festival on the Beach)
For several years, the International Beach Festival has been included in the official register of the main events of Sicily. It takes place on Mondello beach in the second half of May. Thousands of water sports fans come to Palermo to see the competition and listen to live music.
During the days of the festival, volleyball tournaments, windsurfing and sailing competitions are held on the beach.
A large fair of sporting goods is organized for athletes and ordinary citizens, which can be immediately tested after purchase.
Mondello Beach -one of the best beaches in the sicilian capitalwhere most of the residents and visitors of the city spend their time. In the past, a small village, it turned into a full-fledged resort after it was noticed by local financial aces. It has everything - a wide and clean beach, restaurants, cafes and bars, equipment for rent and even an open-air cinema.
- Website: www.albaria.org
Rally Targa Florio
Targa Florio is one of Italy's oldest and most famous car races. Having appeared in 1906, the tradition of auto racing lasted until 1977. Since 1972, a new discipline has appeared in Targa Florio - rally racing, which delight the audience to this day. The true pioneers among motorsports can be considered participants in the Tour of Sicily in 1912-58, who a 72-kilometer drive through the streets of Palermo and mountain roads.
Very spectacular and unpredictable, it annually attracts thousands of tourists. The rally lasts three to four days. In addition to the standard category, within the framework of Targa Florio, competitions are held among historic cars.
- Official website: www.targapedia.com
Markets
Palermo has several open-air markets, but the best and the most famous among tourists is Vukkiria (Mercato della Vucciria). By 4 a.m., fishermen bring their catch, and by 5 a.m., sellers put vegetables and fruits, and by six there are already a lot of buyers. Vukkiriya and his traditions have existed for at least the last 700 years. You need to come here early, as sellers work only until lunch.
Borgo Vecchio, unlike Vukkiriya, remains open until late at night. The place is popular among the young residents of Palermo - they come to eat, chat and shop. Borgo Vechchio is open on Sunday morning - unlike Vukkiriya.
What to see - where to go
Walking along Via Vittorio Emanuele, one of the two main streets of the city, is a good way to get to know the history and past of the city. Churches and houses along it were built during the Arab, Norman and Byzantine rule. The most famous and beautiful part of the Palazzo Normanni (Palazzo dei Normanni), located at the beginning of Via Vittorio Emanuele, is the Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina).
Interesting and impressive places:
- Capuchin Catacombs (Catacombe dei Cappuccini), the world's largest mummy museum;
- Pretoria Square (Piazza Pretoria);
- the huge opera house Massimo (Teatro Massimo) is distinguished by excellent acoustics, talented artists and a beautiful interior;
- Botanical Garden (L'Orto Botanico di Palermo);
- one of the oldest castles in Italy - Dziza (La Zisa).
Official site of the city of Palermo: www.comune.palermo.it
