Palermo

This article is about the city in Italy. For other uses, see Palermo (disambiguation).

Palermo Palermu (Sicilian)
Comune
Comune di Palermo
Palermo Cathedral Interior of Santa Caterina Church Porta Nuova Fontana Pretoria Quattro Canti Teatro Politeama Teatro Massimo
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  Conca d'oro (Golden Basin)
Motto(s):  Senatus Populusque Panormitanus Urbs Felix et Regni Caput (Latin for "The Senate and the People of Palermo, Happy City and Capital of the Kingdom")
The municipality of Palermo within the Metropolitan City of Palermo
Interactive map of Palermo
Palermo Location of Palermo in Italy Palermo Palermo (Sicily) Palermo Palermo (Europe)
Coordinates: 38°06′40″N 13°21′06″E
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Metropolitan city	Palermo (PA)
Founded	736 BC
Frazioni	Monreale, Cinisi, Terrasini, Villabate
Government
• Mayor	Roberto Lagalla (UDC)
Area
• Total	160.59 km2 (62.00 sq mi)
Elevation	14 m (46 ft)
Population  (2026)
• Total	626,273 (5th in Italy)
• Density	3,899.8/km2 (10,101/sq mi)
Demonyms	Palermitano Panormito Palermitan (English)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	90100
Dialing code	091
ISTAT code	082053
Patron saint	Saint Rosalia, Saint Agata, Saint Oliva and Saint Benedict the Moor
Saint day	15 July
Website	Official website

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Palermo (Sicilian: Palermu) is the capital and largest city of the autonomous island region of Sicily in southern Italy, located on the eponymous gulf facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. A 2,700-year-old city, it is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence.

Founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians as Sis ("flower"), Palermo then became a possession of Carthage. Two Greek colonies were established, known collectively as Panormos; the Carthaginians used this name on their coins after the 5th century BC. As Panormus, the town became part of the Roman Republic and Empire for over a thousand years. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule in the Emirate of Sicily when the city became the capital of Sicily for the first time. During this time the city was known as Balarm. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new kingdom, the Kingdom of Sicily, that lasted from 1130 to 1816.

The municipality of Palermo has a population of 626,273 as of 2026. The population of its urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 855,285, while its metropolitan city is the 5th most populated in Italy, with around 1.2 million people. The inhabitants are known as Palermitani or, poetically, panormiti. The languages they speak are the Italian language and the Palermitano dialect of the Sicilian language.

Palermo is Sicily's cultural, economic and tourism capital. It is a city rich in history, culture, art, music and food. Many tourists are attracted by the Mediterranean climate, renowned gastronomy and restaurants, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau churches, palaces and buildings, and the nightlife and music. Palermo is the main Sicilian industrial and commercial center: the main industrial sectors include tourism, services, commerce and agriculture. Palermo has an international airport and a significant underground economy. For cultural, artistic and economic reasons, Palermo is one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean and among the top tourist destinations in both Italy and Europe. It is the main seat of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale. The city is also undergoing careful redevelopment, preparing to become one of the major cities of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Roman Catholicism is highly important in Palermitan culture. The Patron Saint of Palermo is Santa Rosalia, whose Feast Day is celebrated on 15 July. The area attracts significant numbers of tourists and is widely known for its colourful fruit, vegetable and fish markets at the heart of Palermo, known as Vucciria, Ballarò and Capo.