Palermo street art

Okay, Palermo—we know it. We go there to marvel at the architectural wonders born from the Arab-Norman-Byzantine-Gothic mix. And rightly so. We also go to treat our taste buds to all kinds of delights, both savory and sweet. Again, rightly so. We go to succumb to the charms of Palermo’s women, their sun-kissed skin glowing with golden highlights. Still, rightly so. And all while fantasizing about a mafia we’ll never actually see. Anyway.

But you’ll also find street art everywhere, even in the historic center. Sometimes, you just need to step a few meters away from the main tourist highways like Cassaro, Via Maqueda, or the main arteries of the Ballarò, Capo, or Vucciria markets to stumble upon some amazing murals. Duck into one or two slightly grimy alleys, weaving past trash and crumbling walls, and you’ll find real gems.

For example, just 50 meters south of the main artery of the Mercato del Capo, there’s a great spot with dozens of murals in a tiny neighborhood of run-down mini-houses. You’ll find plenty more south of the Mercato di Ballarò, in the Albergheria (the grittier side, not the one near Cassaro). There’s some in Ballarò itself too, but it’s hard to spot when the market’s in full swing with stalls everywhere. La Kalsa isn’t left out either, nor is Vucciria—just step away from the restaurant-packed streets.

Here are a few examples that really caught my eye.

(In the heart of Albergheria, on a street every visitor walks down—lovely message from an unidentified artist)

One artist who’s really everywhere is Tutto e Niente. He uses a lot of different techniques, and visually, it really spoke to me. Lots of female representations, especially Santa Rosalia, the city’s patron saint (but not only her). There’s also a religious side, quite a bit of it. And messages, often. He celebrates the city’s history, its multiculturalism, and local figures in his work.

Highlights.



(told you about the Palermitan women, didn’t I?)

(this one’s really well integrated into the environment: at the bottom, a galley recalling the city’s Phoenician origins, paired with an ad for a tattoo artist)



(not sure if there’s a connection, but the eagle is the symbol of Palermo FC, and pink is their color)

(Santa Rosalia holding the bomb she painted herself with)

Another artist, man or woman—I don’t know this time: B1.

B1 has a different style, leaning more toward the quirky, even hilarious. For example, below, in an alley near the mercato del Capo.



Or up high in Albergaria, with this triptych paying homage to the mercato di Ballarò.

(the scenes are normally in the same left-to-right order across three wall sections separated by a narrow strip of concrete—I didn’t know how to reproduce that here)

B1 also does something pretty cool: small square paintings hung on walls, wedged between two nails. You can find quite a few of them in La Kalsa.

Another artist who’s quite present is TVBoy. I realize I don’t have many photos of his work, but I can’t resist sharing this stunning Santa Rosalia.

(you’ll notice, on her robe, the Palermo FC crest and, on the cross, "forza Palermo"—I love it!)

You can find Tutta Neuro’s gorgeous posters all over the city. Here’s one I’m sharing with you.

In a slightly more tortured style, Sid leaves his mark here and there.



And finally, in a more famous and now iconic style, you’ll find Igor Scalisi Palminteri’s giant murals in the Albergaria district. Below is San Benedetto Il Moro, the city’s second patron saint, a symbol of its multiculturalism. Not visible in the photo, at his feet, there’s an urban concrete soccer field he watches over, and to his right, an entire wall in Palermo FC colors, featuring a giant number 12—the 12th man, the tifosi.

And I’ll wrap up with a few artists I unfortunately couldn’t identify (if anyone has the names, I’d love to know!), but who really caught my eye.

First, this little manga-style girl with green hair and a shower of petals following her, which you’ll spot here and there around the city.



Next, a stunning depiction of Franca Viola.

And finally, the art of elegantly highlighting a door.



That’s it!

Hope I’ve inspired you to poke around some of the less polished spots if you enjoy this kind of artistic expression (heads-up: if crack smokers from Albelgheria call you over with big smiles and wave you into a corner, maybe don’t take them up on it!).

Otherwise, well, still go to Palermo for the architecture, the food... and the Palermitans, right?

PS: Oh, and I almost forgot—all these artists have Facebook, Instagram, etc. So if they interest you and you’ve got an account on those platforms...

Cool travel journal, a bit unusual. Thanks a lot!

It's true that Palermo has an inimitable vibe...

Thanks so much for your interest, Bluequark! !

Yes! Three trompe-l'œil windows side by side, with charming Palermitan women. I didn’t take those ones. Thanks for the photo! 😊

Thanks for this post. Really interesting! 🙂

Polychrome nuances, gray sketches or darker shades, delicate prints—life is written on the city walls... A unique way to approach the somewhere other than home, peeking at the color blocks before diving into the hustle and bustle, the scents, the flavors of this 3D world.

Thanks Kate! 🙂

Yeah, there’s travel... and then there’s travel.

Hi, Thanks for these tips—we’re heading there soon! A map showing these spots would be a great addition.

Hi, Here are two small maps showing the two zones in Albergaria and Il Capo where there’s quite a bit to see. For the rest, it’s pretty spread out—you’ll need to wander through the streets a bit to find things. But the historic center isn’t too big, and I love poking around everywhere... plus I had plenty of time 🙂. Happy exploring!

Thanks for these two maps. It’s not for right away—I’ll keep them in my travel journal.

Thanks for sharing! 🙂 We're heading back to Sicily at the end of May and will be staying a few days in Palermo. Street art is on the agenda!!!