A crossroads of cultures and the heart of the Mediterranean, Palermo is the result of thousands of years of stratification. Founded by the Phoenicians, it became great with the Arabs and Normans, who made it one of the most splendid capitals of the West, and then grew richer under the Swabians, Spaniards and Bourbons. This succession of civilizations has forged a unique city, whose historic center-one of the largest in Europe-is an open-air museum, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Norman churches stand out next to Baroque palaces and Arab domes.
Today the city is experiencing a phase of dynamic renewal, symbolized by the redevelopment of its waterfront. The redevelopments within the harbor, with the recovery of the area of the Castle by the Sea and the new promenade, have restored the city’s historic relationship with the sea, creating a new cultural and social center of attraction. The port has been transformed into a major cruise hub and a living area integrated with the urban center.
