One of the most populated of the Mediterranean islands, Sicily has retained an air of history and old world charm. From coast to coast, Sicily keeps the past alive while interspersing the conveniences of the modern world.

For a taste of the medieval life, there are many palaces (unfortified residences) built before the 1500's for you to visit. The Zisa, located in Piazza Gugliemo il Buono, is a 12th century palace built as a main building in a royal park. During those days, this Genoard park was famous throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. It was gated so wild animals could roam freely within its confines. Fishponds, cages of wild, exotic birds and different species of flora and fauna were contained within. The Zisa is a three story rectangular building set within the gates of the park. Two towers are set midway along the sides of the structure. The front façade has three arches, the most elaborate being the central arch, which also serves as its entrance. One of the more interesting of the Palace's displays is Anna's Tombstone. The stone is separated into four separate sections, each bearing her epitaph in different languages: Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and Latin. The palace also contains many examples of medieval Saracen metalwork, twelfth century ceramics and intricate bronze work by Syrian craftsmen.

The Capuchin Monastery, with its unusual catacombs filled with mummified cadavers is a bit macabre but worth a visit. In 1533, the Capuchin friars began the practice of mummifying and embalming the bodies of Palermo's nobility and bourgeoisie. This tradition carried on until 1920. After being embalmed, the corpses were hung up along the walls of the catacombs, dressed in all their finery. One of the most interesting is one of an 18th century military officer, dressed in his uniform and tricorn hat. The grave of Guiseppe Tommasi, the Prince of Lampedusa and author of one of the best-known pieces of Sicilian literature – The Leopard -, is buried here. Thankfully, he is not embalmed but buried in a cemetery next to the catacombs.

The Cubola ("Little Cube") was built in the late 12th century as part of the garden complex that included the larger "Cuba" structure further down the Corso Calafatimi. The Cubola is sort of a stone gazebo or kiosk for what was once King William II's pleasure garden. The structure is square in shape, about 3 meters on each side, and 3 meters in height. Its distinctive feature is the red dome.

The Cuba, located on the Corso Calafatimi, may be called a scaled-down version of the Zisa, however, not as well preserved. It was building by King William II as sort of a summer palace and main building of the royal gardens. The building is square-shaped and, today, has no roof. There is some dispute as to whether there was originally a roof or dome; or was it building without one to give it an "open air" effect. The Cuba epitomizes the classic style of twelfth century Sicilian architecture. In the center of the Cuba, there are remains of what may have been a fountain and there is a nook with a semi-broken arch inscribed in Arabic. The building is big enough to accommodate over one hundred people for a feast – in typical Sicilian tradition.