Palermo is the principal city in Sicily and the fifth in Italy (660,460 inhabitants but more than a million considering its hinterland). Sitting right in the centre of the Mediterranean, cradle of the most ancient civilisations, the city has always been a cultural crossroad between East and West.

It is a strategic passing place, a privileged post of call for both merchant and commercial traffic and a landing place for different races, languages and religions. Palermo has always fascinated visitors and foreigners for its very pleasant position, the mildness of its climate and the beauty of the city. Also for this, it has suffered many dominations in the past.

It was founded by the Phoenicians in the VII century BC and given the name of Ziz, flower. It was conquered by the Romans and given the name Panormus (from the Greek , all port) and then with few changes (the Arab Balharm) it arrived at its present day name.

The most pleasant period of the city began under Arab dominion (IX century AD) when it became one of the main Islamic centres in the West. The city expanded and new urban quarters grew up outside the historical centre called the Cassaro (from the Arab, Al Quasr, the castle: the ancient name of the main street, today’s Corso Vittorio Emanuele ). In particular, on the outlet into the sea, the Kalsa (from Halisah: the elected) a fortified quarter and residence of the Emir grew up.

In 1072, the city fell into the hands of the Norman Count, Roger, but no violence occurred: the merchants and craftsmen and the Muslim population in general ( but also other races and religions) were allowed to live and continue their chosen professions. This policy allowed the so-called Arab-Norman style, a beautiful mixture of patterns both decorative and architectural, to spread.
The city prospered and was enriched by the diverse cultures.
Roger II, son of the “Count”, a lover of luxury, built oriental style gardens and luxurious palaces ( The Zisa, The Cuba) everywhere and he surrounded himself with scholars, mathematicians, astronomers and intellectuals from all over the world.

After a period of confusion and decadence, Palermo and Sicily passed into the hands of Frederick II of Swabia (1212), under whose reign the city regained its central position and vigour.

There followed the Anjou, beaten in the Wars of the Vesper, the Spanish, and in the 18th century, the Bourbons, who filled the city with Baroque buildings. The nineteenth century sees the opening of the city to commerce and relationships with Europe. The middle-class entrepreneurs become the new economic power and the new “customers”. The city widens its confines. The Viale della Libertà is inaugurated, it continues with Via Maqueda and the area around is adorned with buildings in the Art Nouveau style