With its checkered history dating back more than 2,700 years, Palermo is a melting pot of history, architecture and food. For many, this is a jumping-off point en route to Cefalù, Ragusa or Taormina, but fascinating Palermo has plenty more to offer.

Strategically located where East meets West, Sicily has been invaded by everyone from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, as well as the Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Arabs and Spanish (to name just a few) over the course of more than two and a half millennia. This mix of influences has rubbed off on its people, buildings and even its food. The island’s dynamic capital Palermo is the place to while away a couple of days exploring the culture, cuisine and all the crumbling splendor of bygone times.