PALERMO

Palermo is the regional capital of the Island of Sicily. And it is an absolute treasure. It's a sophisticated and beautiful modern city buzzing with art and life. It's also an ancient city that bears the marks of many of the great Mediterranean civilizations going back to the Phoenicians. Palermo has, for centuries and centuries been a strategic and significant port, and that has also contributed to the city's unique mish-mash of food, culture and architecture.

Now, if you watch our show, David Rocco's Dolce Vita, you may have seen an episode we shot in the Palermo markets (Palermo, Palermo). Palermo is famous for its outdoor markets and they're fascinating: a riot of sights and smells and some food that you may not see anywhere else. We shot in Vuccirìa and Ballarò markets. You can try one of the local specialties ,called Panelle (chickpea fritters), that you can buy right off one of the cart vendors who roams through the markets. There's also a thick pizza called Sfincione which has its roots in the Palermo markets. But the markets aren't just selling food. The market of Papireto, for instance, is known for its antiques and ceramics. You can also buy one of the traditional Sicilian `Pupi' puppets.

That brings us to the arts. Palermo is a lively city with a rich arts scene. Don't be surprised if you encounter some incredible musicians as you're walking around the town. Street theatre, busking, these are all part of life in this city. And if you're in town in July, from the 10th to the 15th, you'll run into the festival that celebrates Santa Rosalie, the patron saint of Palermo, when the town really struts its stuff.

Now, the food in this part of Sicily is incredible. Seafood factors hugely in the cuisine. Swordfish, tuna, sardines are part of the staples of Palermo cuisine as well as eggplant, which figures prominently in the classic Sicilian pasta, Pasta alla Norma.

There is so much to see in Palermo. I'll be updating this site in the next few weeks with a list of some of the areas and the buildings that you might want to include on your travels around this vibrant city.