Palermo Market & Palazzo Conte Frederico

Saturday, 7 October 2017 
Our second day in Palermo and were heading out to see the Capuchin crypt (which has it's own post) and passed by the Palermo market.  

Ew! Sheep heads.  

Where to buy your horsemeat?  Here of course. 

Walking around Palermo we saw signs to a Palazzo Conte Frederico, so followed them and found they had a little tour put on the by the family to show you around the Palazzo.  We really didn't know what we were getting into but decided to go anyway.  It was really excellent.  One of the best things we did in Palermo.  So the family has lived in the Palazzo for centuries and can trace their linage back to the 12th century.  The Palazzo was built on the original city walls so curves along the wall and they have the only remaining original Arabic watch tower incorporated into the building.  It was really cool.  Then at the end they gave us a glass of wine and some really delicious local food.

In the castle they had a large tiled room which also had a map showing the old city, highlighting the tower that the palace had been built around.  It was really interesting because it shows how Palermo used to be a promontory but after the sea became reclaimed land the fortifications no longer served any purpose and so were all dismantled.  That made the Palazzo even more special because they had the last standing tower in Palermo.

Fortunately for us, they had a big event in Palermo while we were there, which was an open house for all the historical sites in the city.  As part of that, we had a backstage tour of the famous Palermo Opera House.

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Typical Palermo street in the old town.

One of the things Palermo is famous for is its Puppet Opera which depicts Palermo's history.  While we didn't actually go to the theatre, here are some puppets we saw.

Next day, as part of the open house we went to Palermo's Botanic Garden.  Ah, the serenity.  It was really beautiful.  Given how warm Sicily is, they had some excellent examples of warmer climate plants, including Morton Bay Figs.

Here's Michelle on a Morton Bay Fig tree (which come from Queensland and NSW).  It was the biggest example we've ever seen.  It was huge.

Famous focaccia place in Palermo.

Again part of the Open House we were able to go into the crypt in the Duomo.  We continue to get ideas for our Sarcophagus.

Inside the Duomo.  Lots of stuff going on here.  Going for baroque! 

Our final lunch in Palermo at Osteria Ballaro, was an awesome affair.  

We only had time for a glass of wine and one dish as we were heading out to Milazzo that afternoon.  Major regret.  This was by far the best pasta I have ever had.  Linguini with a Black Pork ragu.  Doesn't look like much, but OMG it was so super delicious.  A very memorable dish.