| I sometimes think of myself as somewhat of a tour | | | | great way to spend a quiet afternoon, and it really |
| guide, rather than just a shuttle driver taking people | | | | captures the architecture of the region. |
| from Palermo airport to their hotels. Through my | | | | A Trip Fit For Kings |
| experiences of driving through the region, I have | | | | I always try to think of the sites I would like to see |
| come to know Palermo like the back of my hand. I | | | | if I were a tourist in Palermo, and I try to inspire my |
| can tell you about the history of the area, and about | | | | passengers on their Palermo airport transfer before |
| the cathedrals and palaces that you can see there. I | | | | their holiday has even begun. Conjuring images of |
| can tell you the best sites to visit which areas to | | | | grandiosity and important historical events is the |
| avoid and where to have dinner. I see my task as | | | | Palace of the Kings, Palazzo dei Normanni. The palace |
| being more than just providing a ride from the airport | | | | was created in the 9th century by the Emir of |
| to Palermo, but rather as an educational trip where | | | | Palermo, and was to become the seat of the Kings |
| you can learn about the destination you have arrived | | | | of Sicily. |
| in. | | | | In the 12th century it was extended by King Roger |
| A Spiritual Guide | | | | II and the Norman Kings. It contains the Capella |
| Being a shuttle driver, I have a lot of time to | | | | Palatina, full of wonderful mosaics, marble walls and |
| consider the best places to see as I drive past them | | | | elaborately fretted and painted ceilings. I'm really |
| so often from the airport to Palermo. In my opinion, | | | | passionate about this site, and I talk about it on |
| the churches of Palermo are top of the list of sights | | | | nearly every transfer from Palermo airport. |
| to see, and they are both beautiful and peaceful. | | | | The castles of Zisa and Cuba are also worth going to |
| When on a Palermo airport transfer, I often spend | | | | see, the former houses used by the kings of Palermo |
| quite a bit of time advising my passengers on which | | | | for hunting. Zisa is particularly interesting because it |
| churches to see. Palermo Cathedral, I tell them, is | | | | houses an Islamic museum, and the history of Cuba is |
| definitely worth a visit. It is a grand sight to behold, | | | | intriguing as it was formerly surrounded by water. |
| and this architectural complex shows a range of | | | | Entertainment at the Opera House |
| different styles. Being a passionate historian myself, I | | | | Many of my passengers on Palermo transfers haven't |
| am fascinated by its history. It was erected in 1185 | | | | yet planned their activities for every night. Being a |
| by Walter Ophamil, an Anglo-Norman archbishop of | | | | fan of classical music, I often recommend an evening |
| Palermo and King William II's minister. Since its original | | | | out at the Teatro Massimo, 'Greatest Theater,' which |
| development, it has been added to, altered and | | | | is the largest Opera house in Italy, covering an area |
| restored a countless number of times, creating a | | | | of 8 000 square meters. It opened in 1897, and has |
| mixture of different architectural styles as they | | | | enjoyed an active performance schedule ever since. |
| developed over the centuries. | | | | Enrico Caruso performed La Gioconda during the |
| I don't get much time to visit this beautiful site | | | | theater's opening season, and performed Rigoletto |
| myself, but I always recommend it to passengers | | | | towards the end of his career. |
| when driving from the airport to Palermo. I think it's a | | | | |