Palermo and Sicily in general are unique. Firmly entrenched in Europe and with Italian culture everywhere – the island is almost within touching distance of Northern Africa. Throughout time, almost every superpower has had control of Palermo and this has resulted in a fantastically unique blend of culture, food, design and architecture.
With grand gardens found at certain spots around the city, crumbling walls, stunning piazzas and of course the turquoise water of the sea – it is one of the most attractive cities in Europe, it's no wonder that people want to rent apartments here in Palermo. With most of the architecture being very historic, flats for rent in Palmero are often found in old buildings, as opposed to modern condo blocks.
Apartments by District Palermo
As Palermo has been handed from one great dynasty to another throughout history, there have been many cultures that have called the Sicilian capital home over the years. As such, the city has developed its own districts, that really do feel almost independent from one another. Often with different dialects and cultures.
The old town is a majestic place to rent an apartment in the city – with some of the most impressive buildings on the island at every turn – and at the heart of the tourist activity, the streets here are often busy into the night.
Albergaria is home to the Royal Palace and has long been a melting pot of language and culture – despite the area being neglected for a while, over the last decade, money has been pumped into the grand old neighborhood with interiors of buildings being developed and turned into a great place to live.
Flats in Quattro Canti
Quattro Canti, or the 4 Corners has been the centre of Palermo for centuries and in the 17th Centruy, the main crossroads was lavishly decorated, with four palaces being constructed, one of each corner. The grandness and majesty of the area has not gone away and the district does have a very special feel to it.
Apartments for rent in Quattro Canti don't come up on the market too often, but when they do it is worth snapping on up. There are not many better locations in the city and while prices here are higher than elsewhere, Palermo isn't a horribly expensive city and there are some bargains to be found within the historic walls of Quattro Canti.
Brancaccio Apartments
Located a way out of the city center, flats for rent in Brancaccio are a great option for those wanting to save more money to explore Sicily, Italy or Europe itself. Compared to the medieval majesty of Palermo's old town, the traditionally working class area of Brancaccio isn't as pretty, with older apartment buildings filling the streets.
While a lot of the apartments in Brancaccio could benefit from a bit of loving care, especially on the exterior, it is a warm and welcoming neighborhood – within walking distance of the city center and the beaches and a perfect way to get an authentic look at life in Sicily.
Flats in Kalsa
Kalsa as a district was built in 937 by the ruling Arabs who had control of Sicily at the time – known today as a city within a city – Kalsa definitely has its own feel and has retained a more middle eastern atmosphere than other parts of the city. The area was deserted for a long time following World War II and while redevelopment and renovation is happening, it is happening slowly.
However, that does mean flats to rent in Kalsa are quieter than others and often very recently renovated – with a more budget friendly price tag. Not as awe inspiring as the old town but more charming than areas like Brancaccio, Kalsa has its own, strange kind of beauty that has to be seen in person to be fully understood.
Student Accommodation in Palermo
Despite being a fairly small city on a fairly small island, the cities university has a student body of over 40,000 and with all of the students in town, there is always a search for student accommodation in Palermo.
Although there isn’t a 'designated' student area or districts, with students spreading throughout the city – a fairy big community can be found in the neighborhoods of Kalsa and Albergaria. Both of the districts are very close to the university and both are similar in the fact that these were areas that went without redevelopment and renovation for a long time. This has changed over the last 10 years, but rent is still cheap here and with ample nightlife, restaurants and the university campus so close, these districts are very appealing to the students of Palermo.
Public Transport in Palermo
The public transportation in Palermo is fairly basic, but that doesn’t have to be a negative thing. The entire city isn't too large and the public transport – while leaving a little to be desired, does its job well. The buses are prone to overcrowding however and aren't the quickest things in the world – with a lot of people choosing to walk and enjoy the Sicilian sunshine instead.