Stroll Palermo's parks and the historic centre

The city's two other essential areas reward unhurried wandering. Trendy Palermo is the largest barrio, full of leafy parks, boutiques, street art, and the best of the city's café and restaurant scene, perfect for a relaxed day on foot or by the free city bikes. The historic centre, meanwhile, holds the grand Plaza de Mayo (with the presidential Casa Rosada), the famous Avenida 9 de Julio with its Obelisco, and the stunning Teatro Colón opera house, one of the world's finest. Most of this costs nothing to admire. We'll suggest a walking route linking the highlights.