Palermo and Milan: Italy's Southern Island Gem and Northern Fashion Capital

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, the large island at the southern tip of Italy's "boot." It lies on the island's northwest coast, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Milan (Milano) is the principal city of Lombardy (Lombardia), a region in the northern part of Italy, at the foot of the Alps.

The two cities represent Italy's geographic and cultural poles: Palermo — Arab-Norman-Byzantine heritage, street food, Mediterranean warmth; Milan — finance, fashion, design, Gothic Duomo, Alpine gateway.