FMR Christmas
10426 Palermo
Curated by Giorgio Villani
2024 / 236 PAGES.
Language: Italian
Palermo has been given a host of toponyms over time, as if each name reflected the city’s multifaceted, ever-changing nature, shaped by its centuries-long history. From the traces of a great Greek and Roman presence, to its Arab-Norman buildings and gleaming mosaics, from the inlays and dazzling whites of the flourishing Baroque period, right up to the 20th century with its elegant Art Nouveau – all of these layers unfold in the pages of this volume.
The curator Giorgio Villani’s texts outline an itinerary for discovering Palermo, introducing readers to key moments and places, and ending with a gallery of characters who, though unique and at times peculiar, are deeply relevant to the city’s composite identity. Each chapter also includes a carefully curated selection of excerpts from well-known writers, poets and travellers of the past with their descriptions of the city, forming a literary anthology where eras and styles blend together. The sharp, affectionate and sometimes nostalgic gaze of local intellectuals is complemented by the external perspective of those who, arriving from afar, are no less attuned to the city's wonders and eccentricities. Alongside the texts, images of monuments, palaces, churches and artworks, captured by renowned photographers such as Massimo Listri and Luciano Romano, reveal a city of irresistible charm which proudly displays its evocative and enduring magnificence.