Virtual Tour of Palermo – Italian island of Sicily

The Sicilian capital, called the “Kingdom of the sun” by invading Normans in the 12th century, has been a cultural melting pot since Phoenicians and Greeks fought over it in the 5th and 6th centuries BC. Sitting close to where Europe ends and Africa begins, Palermo bears the scars – and echoes the glories – of centuries of domination. Once Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman and ultimately Italian – unified with the mainland only in 1861 – it has a relatively recent “made in Italy” identity. And in 2018 it basked under the banner of Italian Capital of Culture, hosting the prestigious Manifesta contemporary art biennale and helping regenerate its waterfront. The Italian Embassy Cultural Centre continues its collaboration with Bell’Italia 88 to bring to the Indian public many of our country’s attractions. Starting today, and over the next 6 months, you will be able to virtually tour 6 important cultural cities of Italy. One city will be the focus each month, with a walking tour illuminating its most important monuments, followed by a talk including a visit to a museum or a historical building. We shall begin with Rome, the capital city, moving on to Sicily in August for a visit to the marvelous Palermo, with its memories of Arab domination and the subsequent enlightened reign of the Swabians. After which there will be Florence, Naples, Venice and Milan in the months to follow.