Page 133 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

BY BIKE OR SCOOTER

If you’re adept on two wheels, biking is not a bad option: as long as you realize the
rules of the road – he who hesitates is lost, and go for the gap – weaving your way in
and out of the traffic can be an exhilarating way to save time and legwork. Rent Bike,
Via Giardinaccio 66, off Via Maqueda ( 331 750 7886) offer bicycle and scooter
rental.

INFORMATION AND TOURS

Tourist offices Palermo’s helpful city-centre tourist office, at Via Principe di
Belmonte 92, Mon–Fri 8.30am–2pm, 2.30–6pm, 091 585 172,
palermotourism.com), has maps and plenty of information about the city and province.

Information kiosks run by the city council (all theoretically open Sat–Wed 9am–1pm
& 3–7pm, Thurs & Fri 9am–1pm & 3–6pm, but hours may be reduced) are scattered
through the city centre, in places like Piazza Politeama, Piazza Bellini and at the
Stazione Centrale.

Listings information For a rundown of what’s on, the free Agenda Turismo lists
useful contact details, museum times, transport links and cultural events in and around

the city. For a more detailed look at arts and entertainment, there’s Lapis (
palermoweb.com/lapis), published fortnightly and widely available from cultural
venues, bars and cafés. The local edition of the daily newspaper Il Giornale di Sicilia
also details forthcoming events.

Tours The Parco Culturale del Gattopardo offer guided walking tours in Italian and
English focusing on places associated with Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and his

iconic book, The Leopard ( 327 684 4052, parcotomasi.it).

ACCOMMODATION

Most of Palermo’s traditional budget hotels lie on and around the southern ends of Via
Maqueda and Via Roma, close to Stazione Centrale, but you’ll get far more for your

money in the city’s B&Bs, many of which are charming and extremely well run. Prices
tend to stay the same year-round (except out on the nearby coast, where usual summer
rates apply), but advance reservations are recommended if you want to be sure of a
room in a particular place (and also around the time of Palermo’s annual festival, July
11–15). The two nearest campsites, as well as Palermo’s youth hostel, are actually

all at the beachside town of Sferracavallo, 16km northwest of the city or a good half
an hour on the bus – convenient for beach or airport but not really for city sightseeing
or nights on the town.

OLD TOWN