Set on Sicily's northwest coast beneath the looming Monte Pellegrino, Palermo has been ruled by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish and Bourbons - and every one of them left a mark. The result is one of the most fascinating cities in the Mediterranean, where Byzantine mosaics glitter inside Norman palaces, Arab domes rise beside Baroque facades, and ornate churches share the streets with raucous outdoor markets.

Italian is the language, the euro is the currency, and the city's collection of Arab-Norman monuments holds UNESCO World Heritage status. Palermo rewards visitors with grand sights like the Cathedral, the Norman Palace and the golden Palatine Chapel, but its real soul is in the markets, the street food, and the faded grandeur of its old quarters.