Palermo is the capital of Sicily, a port city shaped by Phoenician, Arab, Norman and Spanish rule. Its Arab-Norman monuments, including the Cappella Palatina in the Norman Palace, the cathedral and the cloister of Monreale, are listed by UNESCO, and the markets of Ballarò and the Vucciria remain at the centre of daily life. The Teatro Massimo, one of the largest opera houses in Europe, and the Liberty-style villas of the city’s belle époque add to the mix. Villa Igiea, a restored Art Nouveau hotel on the bay, and the beach suburb of Mondello are favourite addresses. Visitors come for food, culture and the western Sicilian coast, from Cefalù to San Vito Lo Capo and the Egadi Islands.
Private jets use Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO) at Punta Raisi, about 35 km west of the city on the coast, around 40 minutes by road. The airport accepts aircraft of every size and is open throughout the year, which makes Palermo a practical base for western Sicily and for yacht charters heading to the Aeolian or Egadi islands. Flying privately removes the change of aircraft in Rome or Milan that most scheduled routes require. Flight times to Palermo are around 1 hour 15 minutes from Rome, around 2 hours 15 minutes from Geneva and around 2 hours 45 minutes from London. The Jet Collection arranges the flight and handling at Punta Raisi and organises a transfer to your hotel, villa or yacht.
