Palermo is Sicily’s capital city and overlooks the homonymous gulf in the north-western region called Conca D’Oro (Golden Outcrop) rich in orange and lemon groves and surrounded by beautiful unspoilt bays. The province of Palermo includes about 82 towns including the famous Cefalù and Monreale.
Interesting sights are the Normans Palace, one of the most beautiful Italian palaces and a notable example of Norman architecture housing the famous Cappella Palatina, the Chiaramonte Palace and the Abatellis Palace dating back to the late 15th century built in typical Catalan style with Renaissance influences. The Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo is one of the most important in Italy housing remains of Etruscan, Carthagian, Roman and Hellenistic civilisations. 
The 12th century church of the Magione, officially Church of the Holy Trinity, is an ancient example of Norman architecture.
Quattro Canti is a small place at the crossing of the ancient main roads (now: Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda) dividing the town into its quarters. The palaces at the corner have diagonal baroque facades so that the place gets an almost octagonal form.
Palermo also has the largest Botanical Garden in Italy, which, dating back to 1785, covers a surface of over 10 hectares.
Close to the city is the fantastic promontory of Monte Pellegrino, 600 m above sea level with spectacular views of the city, its surrounding mountains and the sea.