The hotel is centrally located between the older, scenic part of the city along via Maqueda, where there is a multitude of shops, street vendors, restaurants and small bars. The Massimo theatre is across the street and was a lively place to sit and people watch. In addition to opera and other shows hosted there, the view of the building is quite beautiful in itself. The slightly remodeled section of the city is to the right of the hotel coming out of the front doors which leads to a completely different feel of the city. Although Palermo can seem a bit rough around the edges, do not be afraid to walk the streets of the older side, that’s where you will stumble upon the magic. Longer daytime walking of 15-20 mins here and there will lead to some of the most spectacular architectural wonders. If you can look beyond the crumbling cascade of post WWII damage and appreciate the dichotomy of old and new, you will find the real beauty in the complex multiculturalism, lightheartedness in the people, and a ton of hidden gems.
