| If you are planning to tour Europe, you should | | | | the Eighth Century B. C. by the Phoenicians who |
| consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern | | | | wanted to take advantage of its natural harbor. |
| Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful | | | | This strategically city was conquered time and |
| area can be an ideal vacation spot. It has classic | | | | time again. At one time it was once a Muslim city |
| Italian food that you can wash down with fine | | | | with two or three hundred Mosques. Palermo's |
| local wine. And many parts of Sicily haven't yet | | | | golden age was during the Norman occupation |
| been discovered by tourists. This article presents | | | | starting in 1072 and lasting for well over one |
| Sicily's capital, Palermo. A companion article | | | | hundred years. The conquests continued almost |
| presents western Sicily. Another companion article | | | | unabated. Palermo was heavily destroyed during |
| presents eastern Sicily. | | | | the Second World War. To some extent Palermo |
| Palermo is Sicily's capital and its largest city with a | | | | is still in the hands of a conqueror, the Mafia. |
| population of about 700,000. It was founded in | | | | |