For those yet unaware, Palermo, not only cherished by its locals but admired far and wide, harbors some unique and exclusive features that distinguish it as the capital of Sicily. It boasts the largest historical center in Europe, a title recognized by UNESCO and only rivaled by Lisbon, Portugal’s capital.

Palermo is home to Europe’s oldest paper document—a bilingual letter in Greek and Arabic written by Adelasia, the wife of Roger I. The Salinas Museum houses one of the world’s most extensive Etruscan art collections. The Palermo Stone, second only to the Rosetta Stone, is crucial for translating ancient Egyptian. The Italian language traces its origins to the court of Frederick II, who founded the Sicilian School.