Guide to Palermo

'It's been invaded by everyone from the Romans to the World War II allies, but Palermo remains the strongly beating pulse of Sicily.'

From its lively squares and bustling backstreets to its magnificent palazzi, when it comes to history, character and charm, Sicily's capital easily rivals Italy's triumvirate of cultural giants, Venice, Florence and Rome. As the locals love to point out, Palermo is 'Sicilian' not 'Italian'. Park yourself in a pavement cafe, order a coffee and a pastry or a mouth-watering 'granita' ice. Then simply let the bubbling atmosphere of this unique city tease your senses. To take a walk through history head for Corso Calatafirmi. Almost the entire heritage of the island is represented here, with Roman homes standing next to Norman palaces and Baroque churches. And let's not forget one of the country's modern-day claims to fame: shopping! A stroll down Via Maqueda or Via Liberta in the city centre will provide a heavy dose of retail therapy, with shops selling everything from cutting edge designer gear to local arts and crafts. Then, of course, there's the La Vucciria market, based in Piazza San Domenico and spilling into the neighbouring side streets. Its name means 'hubbub', which perfectly captures its souk-like atmosphere. When the city heat gets too much, the sensible citizens of Palermo retreat to Mondello Lido, which has some of the best beaches in Sicily, stretching around 2 km from the foot of Mount Pellegrino to Montel Gallo. There's also a good selection of seafront cafes and restaurants, serving excellent local fish and seafood. Alternatively, there is another way to escape the heat. Pay a visit to the catacombs under the Capuchins Monastery – as long as you don't mind being in the company of several thousand mummified corpses!

Find the cheapest late deals to Palermo leaving in the next six weeks.