palermo, sicilia
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- raf0
Been there twice, last time a month ago.
Palermo is different from the rest of Sicily. It's weird. The streets and buildings in the historical centre almost look and feel like it's Havana after 50 years of damage by the revolution.
You'll witness the craziest driving in West Europe. They're all around the place, when it's a two lane street they make it a five. The best description of driving in Palermo I heard was "it's like they drove their cars as if they were scooters". That's exactly how they drive.
Even if you have a booking, you just must visit Hotel Orientale, the weirdest hotel I've ever stayed at. Take a wide-angle lens with you. The building is some 300 years old (owners change historical dates every time they tell the story). It is beautifully monumental in its decay - something that just needs to be seen in person. It is very clean though an rooms are fine, recently renovated.
The legend says, Duce spoke from its balcony once.Behind the hotel there is one of Palermo food markets - a must see, just watch your wallet and camera.
There is something about Palermo I can't put my finger on.. You can see it's where Europe ends devoured by Africa, but then there are parts of Sicily that don't seem to have this hopeless-struggle aura about them.
Either way, it is worth seeing and not worth staying longer than a day or two. There's much more to Sicily out there.