Palermo’s Historic Street Markets Guide

Vucciria Street Market, Palermo, Italy, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

When I was in Palermo, I had my cozy place to stay right next to Via Roma, just minutes away from mercato storico Vucciria. Being so central and big, this ancient market was hard to miss, either day or night.

La Vucciria Palermo covers a pretty large area, some kind of a maze of twisty little streets, with old houses that have the tiniest balconies you’ve ever seen!

It starts at Piazza San Domenico and goes all the way, on the charming Via Maccherronai and via Argenteria, up to the Piazza Garraffello. The loveliest part about it is that it’s in this area in with time-forgotten palaces and amazing street art.

Vucciria Street Market at Night time, Palermo, Italy, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

What to Expect:

The very essence of Vucciria is its Arab souk-style dynamism: by day, a bustling market, and by night, a lively scene of bars and music.

In the morning, Vucciria awakens as an extremely crowded and noisy marketplace, echoing with the traditional vibrant shouts of vendors, the ‘abbanniati’ and the clang of fishmongers’ knives. In here. everything Sicilian is sold: meat, vegetables, fish. So many lively colors cover the old stalls like a mosaic, vivid tapestries of spices laid out in heaps and lots of sea food. Amidst the many fish stalls, you can find contemporary art pieces, vintage finds, and handcrafted trinkets.

The market undergoes a transformation as night falls, turning into an after-hours scene with bars and live music. Actually, for the last 20 years, Vucciria has been the nerve center of Palermo’s nightlife. In the dark, the ancient market sinks in street-food smoke and dim lights, laugher and singing out in the street. There is this sense of mystery falling over the entire area, especially because of the aged homes, many showing wear and tear, and the so many impressive graffities.

Osteria lunch appetizers in Vucciria Market, Palermo, Italy, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

What to Eat in Vucciria:

Seafood reigns supreme in Vucciria. Whether it’s fresh oysters cracked open right in front of you or grilled octopus served on carton plates, all are a must-try! And no visit is complete without biting into a warm Pani ca Meusa (panino con la milza), a traditional Palermitan spleen sandwich.

Compared to Capo’s many fast food stalls, the eateries inside Vucciria market, which is still a place with extremely narrow streets, are more like pretty and modern restaurants, just perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

I only had an amazing lunch at Osteria al Casarecio and a small evening snack at the lovely Dadalia Osteria. Both serve an array of fish and vegetable-based dishes, from antipasti to intricate dishes like stuffed squid, swordfish rolls, sea bream, roasted sea bass, and sardines with fennel and clams. Plus, one can’t miss delightful Sicilian desserts, such as cassata and cannoli and the selection of fantastic wines. So yummy!

Osteria dinner time in Vucciria Market, Palermo, Italy, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

Things to See Around Vucciria:

The Genius of Palermo is an ancient symbol of the city, representing the protective spirit of Palermo. Throughout the city, there are various statues depicting this deity, and the Genius of Garraffo inside Vucciria is one of them. The statue showcases a crowned figure, holding a snake (which he’s shown to be taming). It was sculpted by Pietro de Bonitate in the late 15th century and can be found in Vucciria, set within a niche of the structure designed by Paolo Amato in the 17th century.  It used to sit atop of a fountain that was moved from the square.

Not far from Vucciria market, towards Porta Felice, there is Palazzo Mirto, one beautiful ancient house, which I totally recommend you to visit. This historic mansion offers a glimpse into the aristocratic life of Palermo during the 17th to 19th centuries. It was the residence of the Filangeri family, a noble lineage in Sicily, for many generations.

Fontana Pretoria, Palermo, Sicily, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com