During the first two centuries of the Common Era, Palermo was one of the most important Mediterranean trading hubs. In its 2,500-year history, the ancient port town of Palermo has experienced three distinct golden ages: The Carthaginians, Arabs and the Romans all found great fame along its rocky coastlines. During the first two centuries of the Common Era, European powers were not much interested in what Palermo had to offer because they were busy conquering the rest of the Mediterranean. But slowly, word of its beauty spread to Europe, and the Italian government commissioned the construction of the world’s first Western-style palace, the Duomo of Palermo.
The Duomo was home to one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, and the architects behind it would later become masters of elegance and style even in modern times. Today, visitors to Palermo marvel at this monument as a memento from an era that never really went out of fashion. Duomo Palace is constructed from different types of colored sandstone, which were first discovered by accident while excavating the basilica of San Lorenzo. Afterward, workers used cement and laid a brick-lined driveway in an attempt to level up the site of the ruins of the ancient buildings. A narrow aisle leading to the entrance of the basilica was covered with a row of beautifully cut slabs, and the mementos that were accidentally uncovered from these buildings have been used ever since as a way of decorating the modern-day Duomo.
An example of one of these mementos includes a large-scale, double-tiered sandstone portrait of Jesus Christ that stands in the center of the Duomo. Another memento from Palermo’s history that can be found along the coastline of Palermo Beach in a unique setting is a large scale, vintage Retro style “Beach Sunset” oil painting that was created by Josefa Romo. The painting consists of a large number of photographs taken on the famous Palermo beach during the last week of June and the original artist, Josefa Romo, has decided to share them with anyone who might be interested in seeing his beautiful vision.
Another exciting memento from Palermo to buy can be found in the form of a blinky orange beach ball, which locals commonly use during the annual ” Tirreno de la Barra” festival. This festivity marks the beginning of the season when beach balls, mainly “Blinkies” (fiery floating balls of light-up plastic), are tossed in the air by young men as a symbol of celebration and good luck. Just like the holiday-themed “Lovers’ stroll” down the beach during Valentine celebrations, blinkies are tossed by people of all ages to cast their special glow in the air on the eve of a birthday or any other special event. If you are looking to buy an interesting memento that you know will brighten up any room and make a statement about your own sense of style, then the blinky orange ball is just what you are looking for.
Last but certainly not least on our list of things to do on the sunny beaches of the Palermo coast are our favorite hangouts: La Casona Restaurant and Bar and The Wave. Located in the heart of the town, La Casona Restaurant is one of the most popular dining spots for visitors to Palermo. It offers two different restaurants, a lounge, and a great bar with live music playing every night. While there is no smoking allowed inside the restaurant, it is perfectly acceptable to enjoy a cigarette while you dine, and several tables offer free smoking. The Wave, on the other hand, is a very popular place to go if you want to party. Located at the same location as the aforementioned La Casona Restaurant, this bar specializes in surfing videos and has hosted some of the most famous names in the world of surfing.
Regardless of which of these three incredible stops you make on your trip to the Palermo Coast, you will not want to leave without taking in the gorgeous sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. If you are looking for the perfect way to end your trip to Palermo, look no further than the gorgeous sunset. After all, what better way to cap off a vacation than to enjoy the sun setting over the serene blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. On our next trip to the beautiful island, we plan to make the most of the sun, sand, and sea. So stay tuned for more exciting things to do on the beautiful Palermo coast.