Hello Dear Pinmapples, here is the third part of our travel to sicily. I hope you enjoy it.

Once across the island

From Catania, we made our way to Palermo. To shorten the journey a little, this time we didn't stop at a special place but went shopping in the "Sicilia Outlet Village". As the flyers and advertising posters for this were almost everywhere and the village is located directly on the route between Catania and Palermo, we didn't want to miss out on this visit. The outlet village is very nice and similar to outlets in America. There is a good mix of classic brands such as Adidas, Nike and Levis as well as high-quality designers such as Gucci. However, it has to be said that most of the high-end designer items have normal prices and there are only a few offers to be found. Nevertheless, a visit is definitely worthwhile. Strolling through the small outlet town was fun and we managed to bag a bargain or two.

Mondello - a little jewel by the sea

We then continued on towards Palermo, or more precisely to Mondello. A small, tranquil town right by the sea with a sandy beach. We had booked a bed and breakfast here that I can only recommend: The B&B Mondello Resort. A really beautiful villa with its own pool. The host Robert lives on the first floor with his family, is super helpful and can give you insider tips for the surrounding area. Unfortunately, due to the very cloudy and windy weather, we were unable to use the sandy beach (one of the few in Sicily). However, the bad weather brought other advantages. When the wind and waves are blowing, Mondello turns from a bathing paradise into a surfer's paradise, so it's really fun to sit in one of the bars on the beach and watch the surfers. If you want to eat out in Mondello, you have a wide choice and can easily get around on foot. I can recommend La Vecchia Masseria for classic Italian dishes, delicious pizza and truly unique mussels. There are also very good small fish restaurants at the harbor.

But now to Palermo

After reading that Palermo is practically the pinnacle of poverty in Sicily, we were initially a little skeptical and expected even more dilapidated buildings than in Catania. However, we were pleasantly surprised. Palermo is a really beautiful city and has a lot to offer. If our hotels hadn't already been booked, we would have liked to spend 1-2 more days in Palermo. There are several streets where bar after bar are lined up and where it is really fun to stroll and stop. Most of the buildings are in good condition and some are even beautifully planted. Another plus point is that the city center is mainly a pedestrian zone. So walking through the streets is very relaxed and fun.

What should you have seen?

In Palermo, you should not miss out on a comprehensive visit to the cathedral. The building is really impressive and from the roof you have a wonderful view over the city. The theater and a tour of the theater are also worthwhile. It is also simply lovely to stroll through the alleyways. You shouldn't miss the chance to walk through the famous market in Palermo and perhaps grab a bite to eat directly from one of the stalls. If you walk towards the harbor, you will also find one or two very beautiful buildings and a small park where the oldest fig tree in Europe stands, which is an impressive size.

A little tip: If you appreciate beautiful architecture and buildings, keep your eyes open when walking through Palermo and look into the small alleyways. There are some hidden gems here.

Conclusion

We liked Palermo much better as a city than Catania. It is quieter, better maintained and has a nice atmosphere. If we were to fly to Sicily again, we would prefer to land in Palermo and spend another 1-2 nights here to experience a warm summer night in the alleyways and bars.

See you soon.
Your Melonqueen