When you arrive in Palermo, beside the monuments and museums, everyone will tell you to visit the historical markets. Why? Because it is where you breathe a mixture of history, culture, legends, and characters. The markets originated during the Arab domination between the 8th and 11th centuries and even today, they are not only a place for trading goods but also of interaction, communication, and exchange.
Located all within the historical center of Palermo, they are often reached through crumbling neighborhoods, historic buildings, and some of the ancient city gates. You will have a glimpse of the past splendor of Palermo while walking towards your food!
In those historical markets, you can observe all kinds of activities: restaurants, street food stalls and stands with various types of dishes or ingredients. The screams of the vendors, the smell of the food, the smog of the grill and the locations will give you a sensorial experience that you will not forget!
Historical markets and their purpose
Palermo counts three historical markets, all at a convenient walking distance one to another and each of them serves a different purpose.
La Vucciria
It is the oldest market in Palermo, starting from Piazza Caracciolo and branching out into adjacent streets. Vucciria market has a double soul: during the day, there are stalls selling meat and fish (also ready to eat) and in the evening, it often fills up with students and professionals who gather for fun. Late in the night, it becomes an open air disco, with amatour DJs in each corner of the square. Loved more by the tourists than by the locals, we recommend you to pay attention while in the crowd.
Il Capo
Known as “U Capù” (easier to pronounce than Vucciria!), it is currently the most lively market, thanks in part to the many tourists who visit it. Located at the entrance of Porta Carini, it contains numerous restaurants, fish and chips vendors, and many stalls that specialize in street food. The perfect place if you want to get a culinary souvenir! Despite becoming quite touristic lately, locals still go there to get their groceries. Pay attention to the prices: vendors often try to trick the tourists by writing a big zero that is actually a nine.
Ballarò
Extending from Piazza Casa Professa to the bastions of Corso Tukory, toward Porta Sant’Agata, it is undoubtedly the largest market of them all and also the most famous. Due to its size, it’s a densely populated and multicultural neighborhood, featuring even a mosque, since that area hosts a big african community. As Il Capo, also Ballarò is populated mostly by locals, although recently has become a food court for tourists. Wander among the narrow streets, get a plate of mangia e bevi or stigghiola or, if you prefer, a plate of octopus seasoned with olive oil and lemon and breath Palermo.
Conclusions
In addition to those 3 historical markets, each neighborhood has its own weekly market, called mercato rionale, where it is possible to shop from clothes, shoes, houseware to vegetables, meat and fish. If you are planning to stay longer in Palermo, check which day of the week is your mercato rationale and be ready to mingle with palermitani!
To conclude, if you truly want to get to know Palermo and its residents, the markets are the best place to start. A melting pot of cultures, traditions, and history, these places exist outside of time and space, perfectly encapsulating the concept of “Sicilian-ness.”
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