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Historically,
Palermo has always played the role of a capital due
to the strategic position and the remarkable
structure of the harbour, hence contributing in
becoming a centre of commerce. As from the date of
its foundation by the Phoenicians around 7th c.B.C,
Palermo served as a port.
The Phoenicians
have made of the settlement a trading post together
with the early Sicilian and Greek people then
occupying this territory. To identify the area, it
was used the Greek term Panormos meaning 'all port',
thus confirming the intensity of ties with the
adjoining and neighbouring Greek colonies. In 480
B.C. Palermo was still a base port for the
Carthaginians.
The stepping stone
occurred around 276 B.C. when the city fell under
the Greek domain. Following the Punic wars Palermo
became the chief Punic base in Sicily. Under the
Romans, who conquered it in 254 B.C., the city has
maintained its prosperous commercial activity and
Roman Palermo has also extended its territory.
In A.D. 491 Palermo
was conquered by Theodoric and in A.D. 535 it was
brought by the general Belasarius under Byzantine
rule. Palermo lived a stable phase for three
centuries (535-831) during which, the Church
strengthened its authority. This era left several
early churches in the city. The Arabs conquered the
city in A.D 831 and in A.D. 948, Sicily became an
autonomous emirate, with Palermo serving as its
capital. The city expanded once more its territory,
it became a notorious cultural seat, and it
flourished with mosques, palaces and gardens. Now it
was not only a centre of commerce but it was also at
the centre of attraction of poets.
Rightly, during
this prosperous period it was known as 'splendid' (ziz),
and as from this date Palermo maintained a clear
historical and cultural identity.
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| Hotel Bed and Breakfast Palermo |
price Euro 35 per day per person minimum 2 days click the foto for details
OTHER B&B ACCOMMODATION IN PALERMO |
