By joining our Erasmus Training Courses in Palermo (Sicily) teachers and education staff will discover a city rich in culture, traditions, flavors and live a vibrant and colourful experience, enlightened by the warm sun of Sicily.
In this page you will learn more about Sicily and about the Erasmus Training Courses taking place in Palermo in which teachers and education staff can participate receiving an Erasmus+ grant covering all of the costs.

Why choosing Palermo?

Visiting Palermo is a unique experience. Walking through the ancient streets of the city, you can immerse yourself in the jewels of Arab-Norman art, with Byzantin and Arabic red cupolas richly covered in golden mosaics, and explore the fascinating Baroque architecture, with its splendid marble stuccos. 
Palermo is a city that can offer to people a true taste of the Italian life: tasting a sweet “cannoli” under the splendid sun, walking in the noisy and colorful market of Ballarò, or enjoying the typical "aperitif" while sipping a spritz at sunset will create unforgettable memories and making you feel part of this charming corner of the world.

Erasmus Teacher Trainings in Palermo

If you choose to join our Erasmus teacher training courses in Palermo, you will have the opportunity to admire the gold covered Cappella Palatina, one of the most precious jewels of the “Palermo-Arabo-Normanna”, and to discover the most marvelous churches and mosaics of the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Climbing on the Cathedral roofs, a beautiful view of the entire city will appear in front of you, with its colourful and charming cupolas and palaces. And to finish your day, you cannot miss a good glass of wine in a typical Sicilian winery, accompanied by live music that often populates the streets of palermo, a city where art explodes in all its forms.

Erasmus Learning Academy in Palermo

Capital of culture in 2018, Palermo is also a destination full of wonderful crystal clear beaches, like in Mondello, Capo Gallo and Santa Flavia. Few hours from Palermo you can also have the opportunity to visit the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, one of the most extensive archaeological sites of classical Greek civilization, or to discover the romantic fishing village of Cefalù. Finally, in summer time, with Palermo's Ferries you can reach the small island of Ustica, a protected reserve where you can come into direct contact with nature and its wonders.

ELA - Erasmus Learning Academy organises teacher training courses for KA121 and KA122 Erasmus plus projects in a residential format: you will be provided with catering and accommodation in the same hotel where the course takes place, enjoying the maximum comfort possible and spending time with fellow teachers and educators from all over Europe. Sit back, relax and enjoy: we will take care of everything, from course activities to a cultural program tailored to your needs.

Top 10 things to do and see in Palermo

1. Palermo Cathedral

​Palermo Cathedral was built by Sicily’s Norman rulers towards the end of the 12th century, on the site of a Byzantine church that served also as a mosque. You can spot the Arabic origins in the far-left column of the portico. Like many structures, it grew and changed many times over the centuries, resulting in a beautiful cathedral that combines many architectural styles.

3. Pretoria Fountain

Originally built in Florence in the 16th century before being bought and moved to Palermo just a few decades later, Pretoria Fountain is a beautiful and impressive fountain that dominates the Piazza Pretoria it calls home. Though the fountain is considered beautiful now, Piazza Pretoria was once known as the Square of Shame due to the nude statues that adorn the intricate fountain.

5. Theatre Massimo

Il Massimo Vittorio Emanuele Theater is one of the main symbols of Palermo, representing one of the most important historical buildings in the Historic center of the city. It is a nineteenth-century structure built with particular attention to detail, to give it greater prestige.

7. Quattro Canti

The most famous intersection in Palermo, Quattro Canti is situated at the crossing of Palermo’s two main streets. Each of the four sections each represent one of the four seasons, one of the four Spanish kings of Sicily, and one of the patronesses of Palermo.

9. Palermo Markets

Food is such an important cultural component to the region, and the markets are an excellent place to get a taste of it. Ballaro and Vucciria, in fact, are not only markets, but also places where you can sit in one of the many places that offer the wonderful specialties of Palermo cuisine, to which are added the exceptional flavors of the Street Food local. The largest food market in Palermo, Ballaro is a place of sensory overload: sights, smells, and sounds all combine to make the Ballaro market a distinct and unforgettable place to visit in Palermo. Vucciria market is made up of small streets that intertwine with each other forming a dense network of connections. ​

2. Palazzo dei Normanni

Sicily has spent many centuries at the crossroads of power, and that is certainly evident in its palace: the Palazzo dei Normanni is built over an Arab palace, served as the seat of the Norman Kings of the Kingdom of Sicily beginning in the 11th century, and has been used by many others since–including the Sicilian Regional Assembly. Today, visitors mostly come to see the stunning Cappella Palatina with its UNESCO-listed mosaics, though other parts of the palace are sometimes open to visitors as well.

4. Church of Martorana

​Set overlooking the Piazza Bellini, this beautiful church is an obvious example of just how many cultures have influenced Sicily over the centuries. Islamic influences are obvious on the exterior of the church, and touches of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Baroque architecture are clear as well. The most beautiful treasure of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio is the majestic mosaic decorations, made by Byzantine artists around 1151.

​6. Wonderful beaches

If you visit Palermo, you cannot miss its beautiful beaches that rise along the Palermo coast. The crystalline blue coast of Mondello, the golden beach of Isola delle Femmine, the rocky coast in the natural reserve of Capo Gallo (with all its colorful fishes), are just some of the jewels that you can explore in Palermo. So, what are you waiting for in diving into the relaxing Sicilian sea?

8. Sicilian pastries and sweets 

Cannoli are possibly Sicily’s most famous export and arguably one of the most delicious Sicilian foods: the crunchy pastry shell is deep-fried and then stuffed with ricotta cheese and is an incredibly delicious treat. Cassata is another ubiquitous Sicilian dessert. Made from a sponge cake soaked in liqueur or fruit juice, the cake is then layered with ricotta and topped with marzipan. If you want to taste these delicious traditional desserts and many others, you should go to Pasticceria Costa and forgot your diet for a day. 

10. Street food and typical cuisine

When you visit Palermo you cannot miss the typical Sicilian street food, a mix of various cultures and flavours. The Antica Focacceria San Francesco, since 1834, gives you the chance to enjoy the traditional gastronomic culture of Sicilian food, with its perfumes and tasty savor, being pleased with the view of the The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, in the ancient arabic quarter of Palermo named “La Kalsa”. Some of the most typical dishes that you can taste in the Focacciera are “pani ca’meusa”, arancine, panelle, and much more. What are you waiting for to take a bite of Sicily?

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