Palermo Photo Spots
Within the enchanting Italian city of Palermo, you’ll find a story waiting to be told. This beautiful Sicilian city is a dynamic mix of cultures and traditions where you’ll find Byzantine mosaics, Gothic royal palaces, and Baroque facades. Its Italian, Spanish, Arabic, and Norman roots have created a truly unique culture you won’t find anywhere else in Europe. Whether you’re looking to discover the architectural brilliance of Palermo Cathedral, snap the sun-kissed alleyways and vibrant Italian markets, or simply capture a single moment in time with your loved ones, there are plenty of places to take photos in Palermo. 📸
Here at Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over three million memories worldwide. Today, we asked our local photographers to show us around all the very best places to take photos in Palermo.
TLDR
(A little sneak peek just for you 😊)
- Porta Nuova to Quattro Canti: Soak up the ancient heart of Palermo and discover all the history that lies within.
- Old Town: Embrace the narrow streets and epic fountains for some fun and exciting photo opportunities. ⛲️
- Palermo Cathedral: Capture yourself with noteworthy works of art and culture while inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- La Cala: Live the high life with snaps in front of luxury yachts in Palermo’s historic port. ⛵️
- Cefalù historic centre and beach: Perfect for day trips away from the hustle and bustle of Palermo and capturing those beachy shots. 🏝️
Photo: Nino in Palermo for Flytographer. Marcella and family capture memories in Palermo with a family photoshoot in Old Town.
1. Porta Nuova to Quattro Canti
When visiting the Sicilian city of Palermo, a must-see is the monumental city gate of Porta Nuova. This gate represents the entrance of the Cassaro from Corso Calatafimi and is located next to Palazzo dei Normanni (the royal Norman palace of Palermo). The gate was built to celebrate Charles V’s conquest of Tunis and offers some truly spectacular photo opportunities.
Capture a candid shot as you walk through the archway toward Palermo Cathedral. But before you head there, be sure to take a wander towards Piazza Vigliena, the centre of Palermo’s historic quarters. This site is known as Four Corners, or Quattro Canti, and is at the intersection of two major streets in Palermo.
This incredible Baroque intersection is formed in an octagon to honour the Spanish viceroy who commissioned its construction in 1609. And while it can be difficult to fit the entire octagonal piazza into a single frame, there are plenty of interesting angles around Quattro Canti once you get those creative juices flowing.
Experiment with low-angle shots looking up towards the sky, or put yourself directly in the centre of one street and capture the buildings on either side of you.
Photo: Nino in Palermo for Flytographer. Maddie and partner capture memories in Palermo with a couples photoshoot.
2. Old Town
Palermo’s Old Town starts at Quattro Canti. This whole area is teeming with ornamental structures and splendid historic buildings, including Baroque palazzos. In fact, the old town of Palermo takes you on a journey back in time and creates one of the most Instagrammable places within the city centre.
One of the best locations within Piazza Pretoria is the Fontana Pretoria or Pretoria Fountain.⛲️ This iconic and beautiful fountain provides the perfect backdrop for your photos. Capture the sunlight as it glistens off the flowing water or lights up the buildings behind it. Sit on the water’s edge and capture yourself and the fountain’s impressive design in all its glory. No matter what angles you choose, a good photo is almost guaranteed.
Photo: Nino in Palermo for Flytographer. Amy and partner celebrate a honeymoon in Palermo with a honeymoon photoshoot.
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3. Palermo Cathedral
If you’re looking for outstanding architecture and an awesome backdrop for photos in Palermo, we suggest taking a trip to one of Palermo’s biggest monuments—the Palermo Cathedral. ⛪️
This Norman cathedral in Sicily was built in 1184 and has had numerous modifications over the centuries; in fact, only a few parts of the original building remain. Palermo Cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 and forms part of the “Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale” itinerary.
There are many interesting angles to be found both inside and outside the cathedral, so play around and snap away until you find that perfect shot. The interior is highly impressive in scale and features interesting royal Norman tombs. As you climb up to the roof, you’ll be able to capture some truly incredible panoramic views of the city centre.
Photo: Nino in Palermo for Flytographer. Desiree and family capture memories in Palermo with a family photoshoot at the Palermo Cathedral.
4. La Cala
Located near Piazza Fonderia and surrounded by local cafes and restaurants, La Cala is one of Palermo’s marinas. It was once the principal port of the city. Today, it houses all sailboats, with sidewalks right next to the boats. It offers you the perfect opportunity to capture a moment when you’ll feel like a millionaire with all your yachts in the background. 🛥️
This beautiful little spot is also one of the most perfect places to take photos in Palermo to capture those all-important and impressive sunset snaps. You won’t manage to get those epic sunsets from the city centre as you’re surrounded by mountains, but at La Cala, you’ll be able to capture those nice golden-hour photos.
Once you’ve taken in the views and those glorious sunsets, 🌅 head off for some delicious street food and another opportunity to take some candid shots of you enjoying the local cuisine. We always find that the best camera is the one you have in your pocket, so get your phone out 📱 and capture these truly incredible moments.
Photo: Nino in Palermo for Flytographer. Gina and partner celebrate an engagement in Palermo with an engagement trip photoshoot in La Cala.
5. Cefalù Historic Centre and Beach
Located roughly 40 miles east of Palermo, in the centre of the North Coast of Sicily, is the beautiful and quiet seaside town of Cefalù. This little town is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy and is an easily reachable day trip from Palermo.
The historic centre of Cefalù is a blended mix of history, tradition and tourism. As you walk along the narrow streets, you’ll be taken aback by the stunning architecture of the buildings. As one of the most Instagrammable places to take photos in Palermo – this city will create some truly lovely images as you capture yourself twirling down the high street.
Cefalù’s most popular photography spot is the waterfront, where you can capture the clear emerald water. It also makes for some fantastic reflections as the waves linger on the sand. Plus, if you time it right, you might even catch the golden-hour glow. 🌇
If you’re looking for a beach a little closer to Palermo, Mondello Beach 🏖️ is only a 30-minute car ride away and offers stunning panoramic views of its white sandy bay. Take some shots from the water with the grand Monte Pellegrino as the backdrop or simply relax on a sunbed and forget your photographer is even there.
Photo: Nino in Palermo for Flytographer. Holly and family capture memories in Palermo with a family photoshoot at Cefalù historic center and beach.
Capturing memories in Palermo
There are plenty of other photo opportunities throughout Palermo, making it one of the best tourist destinations. Whether you want to take a guided tour of the incredible Teatro Massimo or wander through the ghostly Gothic Santa Maria dello Spasimo, you’ll find some epic shots that you’ll never forget.
Capture those landscapes looking out over the Mediterranean coast towards Monte Pellegrino or become enchanted with the walk through Palermo’s Ballaro and Vucciria markets.
Our Ultimate Southern Italy Travel Guide will give you more information on this Sicilian island sitting between Europe and North Africa.
“Nino was amazing! Easy and efficient to communicate with. He allowed us to change the time of our photo shoot the day before which was so kind! He and his assistant were very friendly and made our whole family feel comfortable in front of the camera! So thankful for these pictures that will allow us to hold these memories forever!”
Holly
