Palermo

From the traces of a great Greek and Roman presence, to its Arab-Norman buildings and gleaming mosaics, from the inlays and dazzling whites of the flourishing Baroque period, right up to the 20th century with its elegant Art Nouveau – all of these layers unfold in the pages of this volume.

Palermo has been given a host of toponyms over time, as if each name reflected the city’ s multifaceted, ever-changing nature, shaped by its centuries-long history. From the traces of a great Greek and Roman presence, to its Arab-Norman buildings and gleaming mosaics, from the inlays and dazzling whites of the flourishing Baroque period, right up to the 20th century with its elegant Art Nouveau – all of these layers unfold in the pages of this volume. The curator Giorgio Villani’ s texts outline an itinerary for discovering Palermo, introducing readers to key moments and places, and ending with a gallery of characters who, though unique and at times peculiar, are deeply relevant to the city’ s composite identity.

-PROLOGUE. THE CITY AND ITS FLOWERS -BRIEF HISTORY OF PALERMO -GENNAT AL-ARD. HEAVEN ON EARTH -PIED BEAUTY. RELIGIOUS AND FUNERAL FURNISHINGS AND FESTIVALS -MAGNIFICENT VILLAS AND PALACES -PAINTED ORCHARDS -NOTABLE FIGURES