Palermo, Italy Cruise Port Guide

of Palermo's rich past. Great Arab-Norman buildings include the Cappella Palatina, La Martorana, San Giovanni degli Eremiti and, a few miles outside the city, the Cathedral of Monreale. The bustling streets and animated markets can be easily explored on foot. The Quattro Canti (Four Corners) is the monumental crossroads laid out in 1608-20 at the central intersection of the four longest and straightest streets.

Most sights are along three major streets: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via Maqueda, and Via Roma.

Pier Information . The ship is scheduled to dock at Palermo. It is about 10 minutes to town. Taxis are at the pier.

Shopping . Antique marionettes, traditional Sicilian puppets, and ceramics in modern decor reflecting the style of Picasso are some of the most popular buys. The Vucciria outdoor market, flea markets, and antique shops behind the Duomo are good places to start looking. Shops close for lunch.

Cuisine . Sicilian and international dishes, with an emphasis on seafood, can be found in a wide range of restaurants, from top-quality to the very informal. For lovers of rustic eateries, Vucciria is the place. Stalls around the neighborhood sell everything from calzoni (deep-fried meat- or cheese-filled pockets) to panelle (chickpea-flour fritters).

Porta Nuova. At the beginning of Corso Vittorio Emanuele stands an impressive monument with a majolica-tiled pinnacle and the enormous busts of four Moors.

La Martorana. On Piazza Bellini, the church is known for its fine Byzantine mosaics dating from the 12th century.

Cathedral Treasury. On display here is the crown of Constance of Aragon, made by local craftsmen in the 12th century and found in her tomb.

Church of St. John of the Hermits. The church was built in 1132. With its five tall, red domes, the building is entirely Arabic in Norman Palace. Standing on the highest point of the old city, the palace has always housed the rulers of the Sicily. Since 1947, the palace has been the Regional Assembly.