Palermo, City of Kings

Jeremy Dummett is an expert on the history of Sicily and author of Syracuse, City of Legends: A Glory of Sicily. He read history at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became interested in the history and culture of Italy. Now retired, he is a frequent visitor to Sicily. His website is www.jeremydummett.com

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Palermo - the capital of Sicily - is a destination with a difference. The city is a treasure trove of original monuments and works of art, combined with architecture of grand proportions. Yet it also has a grittier side, shown by the continuing influence of the mafia. Jeremy Dummett here provides a concise overview of Palermo's eventful history, together with a survey of its most important monuments and sites. He looks at the influences of the city's various ancient rulers - the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Normans - as well as its more recent incarnation as part of the Italian state. In addition to being an essential companion for visitors to Palermo, this book can be equally enjoyed as a standalone history of the city and its place at the heart of Sicily.