
Palermo Palermo Palermo Palermo Travel Date: 2023.09.08 – 2023.09.18
Palermo Palermo Destinations: Porta Nuova, Church of San Cataldo, Palermo Cathedral, Ballarò Market, Teatro Massimo, Primo Canto Gelateria, Massimo Theater
Italy Palermo Day 7 of a 9-night, 11-day Western Mediterranean cruise, recording a day in Palermo, Italy.
Arrival in Palermo and Porta Nuova
Palermo Arriving at the port early in the morning. Before disembarking from the Costa Smeralda, I took photos filled with the excitement of a new place.



On the way to Porta Nuova, I confirmed the meeting point before the cathedral tour and made a note of the pizza cart.



Cattedrale di Monreale
Italy Piazza Guglielmo II, 1, 90046 Monreale PA, Italy
Arriving at Porta Nuova, I looked around the exterior. There were many souvenirs around the statue, creating a unique atmosphere.


The front of the cathedral shimmered with golden Jesus illustrations, showcasing its beautiful appearance.



Sicily Palermo In the souvenir shop, I spent some time contemplating which representative magnet of Palermo or Italy to choose from various sizes.





Church of San Cataldo and Palermo Cathedral
On the way to catch the city tour bus, colorful souvenirs placed on every step created a beautiful scene.
Church of San Cataldo
Italy Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 58, 10121 Torino TO, Italy
The Church of San Cataldo is said to have been built to commemorate the victory in the war against Tunisia. It is located on the way to the Norman Palace.




Palermo Cathedral
Italy Via Vittorio Emanuele, 490, 90134 Palermo PA, Italy
Palermo After a short walk, I arrived at Palermo Cathedral. Having visited many cathedrals, I only took photos of the exterior without going inside. The streets were crowded, giving a somewhat bustling impression.



Here, I purchased a red car souvenir containing pepper gifts.




Ballarò Market and Street Food
Palermo Italy During my free time, I explored Palermo city and had a snack break. I tasted Arancini and Cannoli, representative snacks of Sicily. The Arancini, filled with tomato meat sauce, were crispy and delicious, but the Cannoli were too sweet to eat.


The lemon slush and orange juice tasted very fresh and delicious, with the flavor of fresh fruit.

Palermo Ballarò Market was old but had many things to see. Fresh food was displayed even in the hot weather.



At the seafood restaurant recommended by the guide, I tasted fried squid, fried shrimp, and boiled octopus. They were freshly fried and warm, but generally salty. The boiled octopus, especially, was plump and delicious.


The mussel dish, additionally ordered by a member of our party, was also generous but salty again.


The hat I borrowed for a moment in the hot weather was useful.
Teatro Massimo and Surrounding Scenery
Teatro Massimo
Italy Piazza Bellini, 1, 90133 Palermo PA, Italy
Teatro Massimo, which I briefly visited on the way back, had an impressive pink dome. I passed by as it wasn’t on the itinerary, having read reviews that the entrance fee was 2.5 euros and the interior was small.

Palermo I enjoyed the romance of traveling abroad while walking along the beautiful streets of Palermo.


Primo Canto Gelateria and Pedro’s Coffee & Food
Primo Canto Gelateria
Italy Via Maqueda, 215, 90133 Palermo PA, Italy
The gelato I tasted at the market was bought by the guide. Among the recommended pistachio and mango flavors, the pistachio was not to my taste, but the mango flavor was refreshing and enjoyable in the hot weather.


Pedro’s Coffee & Food
Italy P.za Castelnuovo, 31, 90141 Palermo PA, Italy
Palermo As I had time before the meeting, I visited this place to use the restroom and have coffee. Although I went in by chance, the latte was so delicious that I would recommend this cafe when visiting Palermo.



Teatro Massimo and Cruise Life
Teatro Massimo
Italy P.za Giuseppe Verdi, 90138 Palermo PA, Italy
I took photos in front of the Massimo Theater, which was the meeting point. My pose was a bit unconfident due to my hastily chosen outfit, and I was slightly bothered by my ankle socks.



Palermo My mother took a picture of the entire Costa Smeralda, which can only be taken from this spot.


I discovered the fun of swimming late and visited the pool every day. Even if I was tired, I felt compelled to go.

I also started to enjoy gambling at the casino.



For dinner, I enjoyed a refreshing seafood salad and vegan cheesecake as appetizers. For the main course, I chose pasta gratin, beef roulade, and vegan shakshuka. I was surprised by the appearance of the shakshuka, which was different from what I expected, but it was delicious. The sugar-free cake and madam choux served as dessert were also excellent.





That day had a ‘White Night’ dress code, but we could enjoy it freely. The cheerful performance of the grandfather leading the stage brought endless laughter.

At midnight, a lottery draw was held at the casino. Hearing that the first prize was over 150,000 euros, I was hopeful but did not win. At 1 AM, a disco night began, and we had a fun time late into the night.