{"id":12263,"date":"2018-07-27T15:53:08","date_gmt":"2018-07-27T15:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=12263"},"modified":"2019-05-27T12:57:05","modified_gmt":"2019-05-27T02:57:05","slug":"castellammare-del-golfe-sicily-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=12263","title":{"rendered":"Palermo, Sicily 2018 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date: 27th July 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled:  68 kilometres from Palermo to Castellammare Del Golfe, both in Sicily<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited: Palermo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed:  Camping Nausicaa, Castellammare \u20ac30, all amenities, on the beach.  N38.02461, E12.89189<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At around 10pm last night the security guard knocked on the door telling me to turn off the air-conditioner, so we had a little dispute.  The night was quiet enough other than that.  So this morning we set off to visit Palermo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is possible to walk the 1.5 kilometres from Green Car Parking to Palazzo del Normanni, which is the closest of the Lonely Planet\u2019s list of must visit sites.  However the others are more than double that distance, add the heat and humidity and it\u2019s time to brave the traffic in the scooter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the scooter comes off the rack, we lock up the Hymer and head into the myriad of one way streets that is Palermo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our first stop and the closest is the Palazzo dei Normanni. Not a good photo, but it difficult to see it until your so close you cannot take a picture. This view from the adjoining palace gardens.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I should explain the Palazzo dei Normanni or Palace of the Normans, houses the Sicilian Parliment.  It is really a series of buildings, constructed over a thousand years ago, around the Cappella Palatina (Chapel) and the original Palace to form one large structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After paying the princely sum of \u20ac25 entry including the audio guide, we walk into this courtyard surrounded on all sides by an arched loggia.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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There is a display on the ground level detailing parliament and the judiciary\u2019s war with the mafia back in the 60-70s. Brutal stuff.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The 3 levels of the loggia are accessed by this grand staircase in red marble.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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We visit the Cappella Palatina first. Built over 10 years, consecrated in 1140, it is considered Palermo\u2019s premier attraction.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The chapels entry portal.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Cappella has just completed a 5 year restoration program. It looks new.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The walls, arches and ceiling are a continuous mosaic of tiles less than a centimeter square, it is amazing.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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