Foro Italico

A meeting point between land and sea, the Foro Italico is a beautiful promenade where people come to relax, get some fresh air, read a book, or sit and reflect while gazing out at the endless stretch of blue water. These simple pleasures are the result of a long and complex history. Back in the 1500s, this waterfront area had no official name. It wasn’t until the following century, under Bourbon rule, that it became known as the Forum of the Bourbons. The name we use today, Foro Italico, came later, thanks to the Sicilian Parliament.

The seafront promenade was first laid out in 1582, under the orders of Viceroy Marcantonio Colonna. It wasn’t until the 18th century that the area was expanded, and came to be known as the Foro Borbonico, a name it kept until 1848. That name was a tribute to the Bourbon dynasty, which heavily invested in Palermo’s infrastructure. That royal legacy left a lasting imprint on the city, and the shift from Foro Borbonico to Foro Italico reflects a broader chapter of political and cultural change.

This beloved spot was completely destroyed during World War II. Left abandoned for years, it became a barren space, stripped of its former charm. But in the 1990s and 2000s, a major restoration project brought the Foro Italico back to life, and transformed its atmosphere.