10 Things to Do in Palermo in February

The peak season in Palermo is during the summer and the summer months are the best months for touring the island, enjoying the nearby beaches and festivals, but in winter the Sicilian capital also offers many alternatives, especially in February when the weather is ideal for skiing, touring the snow-capped peaks of Etna and for a windsurfing experience at Mondello.

Some of the best things to see and do in Palermo in February include attending the opening of the opera at the Teatro Massimo, taking part in the carnivals in Acireale, experiencing the patron saint festivities of Sant'Agata, taking part in the Almond Blossom Festival in Agrigento and making the most of the seasonal discounts in the shops along Via Vittorio Emanuele.

Palermo, like many other cities in Italy, is characterised by fashion and great clothes shops. If you visit the Sicilian capital in February you can access the seasonal discounts in the shops of Via Vittorio Emanuele, some of which are very exclusive, so it is a good opportunity for you to save by buying products in a more economical way.

The shops include clothing for the whole family, so it can also be an ideal option if you are planning to visit Palermo with children, and you can make the most of your visit by booking some of the best food tours or other excursions in the city, as Via Vittorio Emanuele is among the main arteries of Palermo.

Note that you can also book shopping excursions that will take you to other shopping venues in the city, or you can explore the city on your own at your own pace for the best discounts.

In 1848 the Spring of the Peoples started a constitutionalist wave across Europe that sought to eradicate the power of monarchies and autocratic states ruled by dictators. That movement began on 12 January with an uprising in Palermo and lit the fuse for the European explosion, but it also sparked an insurrection in Sicily that led to the promulgation of a local constitution on 11 February, less than a month after the first conflict.

Some time after the constitution was promulgated, the national army reconquered Sicily and restored absolutism, but the Palermo uprising had been enough to revolutionise Europe. If you visit the Sicilian capital in February you can experience the commemorations of the 1848 Constitution and learn more about the island's independence movements.

Among the city's festivities you'll be able to attend parades, see exhibitions in Palermo's best museums and meet many Sicilians who continue to defend the island's autonomy and the validity of the 1848 Constitution, still considered one of the world's first liberal charters.

February is the month of carnivals all over the world and Sicily is no exception, as you can attend the famous Acireale Carnival, one of the oldest and most picturesque in Italy, with its parade of flowered papier-mâché floats and masked groups. Acireale is located on the east coast of the island, an hour and a half from the centre of Palermo.

In Acireale the carnival contrasts with the medieval, baroque-style town that lends its streets to this centuries-old celebration, which, in addition to the festive spirit, stands out for its gastronomy and for the number of visitors that fill the streets to follow the itinerary of the colourful floats.

The Carnival of Acireale has a tradition of more than 500 years and the parade of allegorical floats attracts many tourists every year, especially from the south of Italy. If you want to take part in the festivities, you can buy a ticket to have access also to the musical concerts and costume parties.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets for the full carnival shows cost approximately 5 euros per person.
• Location... Acireale, Catania.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

The Teatro Massimo is the largest theatre in Italy and one of the largest in Europe and, together with the Cathedral and the Norman Palace, one of the main buildings in Palermo, which stands out for its contribution to the architectural and cultural heritage. The theatre opens its opera season every year in February, so if you visit the city during the month you can take part in the opening concerts.

During the opening of the opera you can attend the concerts with discounted tickets and also see some of the best performances on the calendar, as classical masters and choristers from all over the country are invited to perform during the performances in a ceremony that has become a tradition in the Sicilian capital.

If you are planning to visit Palermo in winter and you are a classical music fan, I recommend that you don't miss these performances, which are among the best of their kind in Italy. Please also note that tickets may sell out, so I recommend that you book your tickets in advance.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets for the opening opera performances have an initial cost of approximately 25 euros per person.
• Location... Teatro Massimo, Palermo.
• How to get there... By bus on lines 104 and 108 or on Palermo's hop on-hop off tourist buses.

Palermo has many patron saint festivals, but one of the best known is that of Sant'Agata, which is celebrated every year between 3 and 6 February. Sant'Agata was, according to Catholic tradition, a saint and virgin martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Decius and is now venerated in Italy, in San Marino and on the island of Malta.

The patron saint festivities take place all over the island, although the main epicentre is in Catania, where the Cathedral of Sant'Agata is located. Catania is considered the third most important religious festival in the world and in Sicily it is a tradition for the faithful to start the festivities in every corner of the island and make a pilgrimage to the cathedral to give thanks to Sant'Agata.

During these celebrations you can see how the city centres are illuminated and decorated with the insignia of Sant'Agata and its colours, and how the devotees go on pilgrimage behind the images of the Virgin dressed in the traditional Sicilian sackcloth. Without a doubt, visiting Catania Cathedral to experience the celebrations at the epicentre of the festivities is one of the best things to do from Palermo.

Interesting details

• Price... You can participate in the patron saint festivities for free.
• Location... In different parts of Sicily, although the epicentre of the celebrations is in Catania.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

Etna is one of the largest living volcanoes in the world and a natural wonder, which is located in the eastern part of the island. If you are a fan of adventure tours or just want to have a different experience during your trip, in February you can go on an excursion to discover the snow-capped peaks of the volcano.

These excursions are usually full day trips and you can choose to see the volcano from the base or climb to the top. If you want to discover the snow-capped peaks I recommend you choose the second option to marvel at one of nature's most incredible images, which is provided by this constantly erupting volcano melting the snow with its lava flows.

If you want to make the most of your visit, you can also visit Taormina, which is a historic town characterised by its Greek theatre and Hellenistic ruins. You can also opt to do the tour on your own.

Please note that if you choose a full-day excursion you will find it difficult to combine it with a short stay in the city, as Etna is about a 2-hour drive from Palermo. If that is your case, here is a list of activities you can do to get to know Palermo in 2 days.

Interesting details

• Price... The excursions to reach the snowy summit of Etna volcano have an initial cost of approximately 220 euros per person and include the rental of equipment and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Location... Catania, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

Although it snows in Sicily during the winter, rainfall is not very heavy and the only month in which it is possible to use the snow for extreme sports is in February. Piano Battaglia, the only formal ski resort on the island, is located in the heart of Parco delle Madonie and not only offers unmissable scenery but also skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing experiences.

Parco delle Madonie is famous on the island because if you visit Palermo at Christmas time you can go there to see the fireworks display, but its real attraction is the accumulation of snow on the ski slope, which is used by many visitors in February for skiing and snowboarding.

At Piano Battaglia you can either pay an entrance fee and then use your own equipment or rent the complete ski equipment, which is the option most visitors choose.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to Piano Battaglia has an initial cost of approximately 25 euros. Full equipment rental starts at 55 euros.
• Location... Madonia, Palermo.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

The Mondello Prize is one of the most prestigious literary competitions in Southern Italy and is awarded every year in November in Palermo. This award honours the best Sicilian writers in different segments and after Christmas and New Year the winners resume their presentation activities.

In February, at the Politeama Theatre, conferences with the winners of the Mondello Prize are held, so if you are planning to visit the Sicilian capital in winter and you are a literature lover, you can take part in this event, which is free of charge and aims to promote culture in the city.

The conference dates usually fall in the second half of February and, in addition to the winners, the colloquiums also usually feature influential speakers in Italian literature, so if you're looking for an alternative cultural plan in Palermo this cycle of exhibitions could be just the thing for you.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the lectures is free, although in February you will need to register on the Mondello Prize website to secure your place.
• Location... Teatro Politeama, Palermo.
• How to get there... Buses 101, 107 and N5 or Palermo hop on-hop off tourist buses.

The Almond Blossom Festival is a popular fair that takes place every year, during the first week of February, in Agrigento, in the outskirts of Palermo. This festival celebrates the blossoming of the almond trees in the prelude to spring and attracts a large number of folk groups from the south of Italy.

The main event of the festival takes place during the closing of the festival, when groups parade with Sicilian chariots and marching bands from the city of Agrigento to the Valley of the Temples, which is one of the main attractions of Sicily and also one of the most important Hellenic ruins outside Greece.

Furthermore, the Almond Blossom Festival officially closes with the entry of the Golden Temple Award, which rewards the most outstanding producer. During the fair, in addition to parades and musical concerts, food and drink stalls are also set up in the fairground area.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the fairgrounds has an initial cost of approximately 5 euros per person.
• Location... Agrigento, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private transport.

February is the coldest month of the year in Palermo and also the one with the most rainy and snowy days, so on more than one occasion you will have to opt for indoor plans. The best options for bad weather days are the museums, among which the Capilla Palatina and the Catacombs of the Capuchins stand out.

The Palatine Chapel is located on the ground floor of the Norman Palace and with its internal columns and Arab and Byzantine mosaic decorations is one of the most beautiful buildings in Palermo, while in the Catacombs of the Capuchins you can visit the tombs of mummies of friars, bishops and ecclesiastical personalities more than 500 years old.

You can also visit the International Puppet Museum, which during February opens its annual opera dei pupi season, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Ethnographic Museum and the Sicilian Mafia Museum, which are often included in the best mafia tours in Palermo.

February is the coldest month of the year in Palermo with highs of 14°, lows of 8° and average temperatures of 11°, with plenty of snow and rainy days. It is also a very windy month.

If you are planning to visit Palermo in February I advise you to always pack warm and waterproof clothes, as the rains are often surprising.

Winter in the Sicilian capital is low season, so you will find that the number of tourists decreases substantially and the main attractions are free of visitors, similar to what happens if you visit Palermo in January.

Due to the low number of visitors you will be able to book excursions at the last minute and also have access to lower prices during your visit.

As it is part of the low season, if you visit Palermo in February you will be able to access lower prices than during the rest of the year, especially on accommodation and excur sions. You can also take advantage of seasonal discounts in clothing shops.

February is an economical time to visit Palermo, especially if you want to save money during your visit. You can also book excursions in advance online to access other discounts and freeze the price before your visit.

February is a cold and rainy month in Palermo, so I recommend you pack the following in your suitcase:

• Winter coats
• Waterproof and comfortable boots
• Thermal socks
• Waterproof and tactile gloves
• Woollen hats
• Woollen scarves
• Sunglasses
• Woollen jumpers
• Fleece trousers
• Thermal fleece