Food destinations within easy reach of Palermo, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Palermo. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for: Belle Epoque seafront, beach lunch seafood and granita
Mondello 12km north of Palermo is the city's Belle Epoque seafront, with Bye Bye Blues on Via del Garofalo (Patrizia Di Benedetto's former Michelin-starred room) and beach gelaterie along the promenade.
Famous for: Baroque villas plus one-Michelin-star Limu
Bagheria 15km east of Palermo is a baroque-villa town and the home of Nino Ferreri's one-Michelin-star Limu inside Torre Ferrante (1565), plus the Aspra anchovy and grilled-fish heritage.
Famous for: Norman cathedral, fishing-village seafood, granita
Cefalu 70km east of Palermo is the Norman-era seaside town and UNESCO site, with the medieval Cathedral, the Lungomare fishing-village restaurants and an unhurried lunchtime granita scene.
Famous for: Norman cathedral mosaics, ravioli alla monrealese
Monreale 8km south of Palermo is the Norman cathedral and cloister town, with the world's most complete Norman-Byzantine mosaic cycle and the local ravioli alla monrealese at trattorias.
Famous for: Couscous trapanese, Marsala wine, Erice genovese pastry
Trapani 100km west of Palermo is the home of couscous trapanese (with fish broth, the Sicilian Arab dialect cousin) and Marsala DOC. Erice above offers the genovese pastry and the medieval town.
Famous for: Etna Rosso, Carricante, volcanic vineyards
Etna wine country 200km east of Palermo is Sicily's volcanic-vineyard region, with Nerello Mascalese (Etna Rosso) and Carricante (Etna Bianco) from producers Cottanera, Planeta and Pietradolce.