Palermo
On the northern coast of Sicily, just west of the island's center, lies Palermo, the ancient capital and Sicily's largest city. Exploring Palermo, you can use it's main streets in the historical center as a compass. At the intersection of Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda are the Quattro Canti, the four corners of Palermo. Four 17th century Spanish facades are each decorated with a statue. Fontana Pretoria, fashioned by sculptors in the 16th century, is located in nearby Piazza Pertoria and was once called the Fountain of Shame because of the uncloaked figures hovering near the water.
Numerous churches and cathedrals, such as Chiesa di Santa Caterina, La Martorana, Chiesa di San Cataldo, are mixtures of Arab and Norman influences from Palermo's past. About six miles west of the city in nearby Monreale is the 12th century cathedral of Santa Maria la Nuova, with its magnificent biblical mosaics. The Palemitani (natives of Palermo) are late eaters - dinner rarely begins before 8 p.m. But once you're situated, you can dine on such savory popular dishes as pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines, fennel, peppers, and pine nuts), or swordfish cut into generous steaks. Without a doubt, you'll find this one of the most charming and fascinating cites in all of Italy.
| City | Hours |
|---|---|
| Civitavecchia, Italy | 6 hours ahead of New York City's Eastern Standard Time |
| Naples, Italy | 6 hours ahead of New York City's Eastern Standard Time |
| Palermo (Sicily) Italy | 6 hours ahead of New York City's Eastern Standard Time |
| Messina (Sicily) Italy | 6 hours ahead of New York City's Eastern Standard Time |
| Katakolon (Pirgos), Greece | 7 hours ahead of New York City's Eastern Standard Time |
| Rhodes, Greece | 7 hours ahead of New York City's Eastern Standard Time |
| Athens, Greece | 7 hours ahead of New York City's Eastern Standard Time |
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