There was a time when clubs like Palermo and Udinese couldn’t even dream about upsetting the order at the top of the standings, but that time has long gone, as the Rossoblu and Friulani, as well as few other smaller clubs now regularly beat top sides like Inter, Milan or Juventus, and are vying for Champions League qualification with the more illustrious sides.

It is not easy to stay in touch with the latest developments from the Serie A, especially if one doesn’t know the language, and that is exactly why we have created a section called Italian Serie A football transfers, which will help you keep track of every single top flight transfer announced in Italy.

With the majority of Serie A clubs very active in every transfer window, it is little wonder that Italian soccer transfers usually dominate the transfer news sections, so you can be sure that Italian Serie A Transfers page will be packed with the latest deals announced on club’s official websites.

One of the reasons why the clubs from Italy are world leaders when it comes to the number of players coming and going every transfer window is the co-ownership feature that is predominantly used and often exercised by Serie A clubs. This option allows a club to sell 50% of the player’s rights to another club while sending him on loan to the potential buyer, giving the seller a chance to buy back the player if he proves his potential elsewhere.

Here is a list of January 2012 transfers for Palermo:

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Emiliano Viviano – Goalkeeper (Italy) – from Inter Milan

Milan Milanovic – Defender (Serbia) – from Lokomotiv Moscow

Eran Zahavi – Midfielder (Israel) – from Hapoel Tel Aviv

Massimo Donati – Midfielder (Italy) – from Bari

Agon Mehmeti – Attacker (Sweden) – from Malmo FF

Franco Vazquez – Midfielder (Argentina) – from Belgrano

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We will keep you updated if we hear any news.

Stadio Renzo Barbera (previously and still commonly known as Stadio La Favorita) is a football stadium in Palermo, Italy. It is currently home of U.S. Città di Palermo football team. The stadium was inaugurated on January 24, 1932 and was named Stadio Littorio in homage to the Fascism. The opening match was Palermo vs Atalanta, with Palermo winning 5–1. A track surrounded the pitch and there were no stands behind either goal. In 1936, the stadium was renamed Stadio Michele Marrone, in memory of a soldier killed during the Spanish Civil War. The name was changed again at the end of World War II to Stadio La Favorita, from the name of the nearby ancient game preserve of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in the 13th century.

In 1948, the track was removed and stands behind each goal were built. In 1984, the second main redevelopment took place, involving the addition of a second tier to the stadium which increased capacity to 50,000 spectators. This higher capacity was however completely covered in only twice, respectively in a Serie C1 league match against Messina and a friendly match against Juventus. A third redevelopment ended in 1990, the last main one to which the venue was subjected and was undertaken due to city of Palermo having been chosen to host a number of the 1990 FIFA World Cup First Round matches. Due to this redevelopment, the capacity of the stadium was lowered to its current 37,619 seats.

On September 18, 2002 the stadium was renamed as Renzo Barbera, past chairman of Palermo in the club’s last Serie A tenure, as well as the two Coppa Italia finals throughout the 1960s and the 1970s, who had died that same year on May 19. In the Serie A 2004-05 campaign, which marked the first Palermo appearance in the top division in over 30 years, all seats in the stadium were already assigned in the summer to season-ticket holders. However, this was not repeated in the next years.

Plans were recently announced by current Palermo chairman Maurizio Zamparini in order to build a new stadium to be owned directly by the club.

Support The Palermo Soccer Team

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, and the Palermo soccer team is one of Italy’s most prominent football organizations. With more than 100 years of history, the football tradition in Palermo is strong. On game night, soccer fans flock to the stadium, and if you’d like to experience real Italian soccer a night at the stadium is a memorable way to do it.

In Italy, soccer teams are a point of intense national and local pride. The local team is supported almost religiously, and heaven help anyone from the outside who dares to critique the native sons. Locals, of course, discuss every aspect of each player’s performance, and the coaching, and the funding, and the refereeing, and the . . . well, you get the idea. Many of the wild gestures and raised voices you see in the Piazzas over coffee and drinks have their root in the most recent Palermo soccer match.

You can spot real fans not just by their animated ways. The local team colors are pink and black, and the symbol of the team is a golden eagle taking flight. Jerseys, patches, vehicle decals, and even tattoos around the city bear the mark. The team was founded in 1900, so the locals have had more than 100 years to grow their pride.

Home matches are held in the Stadio Renzo Barbera, which is in the Favorita neighborhood. The stadium holds just under 35,000 fans. A new stadium is planned, but no move has been made at present. Tickets are available through a number of online vendors, the concierges at hotels, and at the stadium directly.

The biggest matches are against Catania. All over Italy, soccer teams and soccer fans tune in to watch what are known as the “Sicilian Derbies”, which are the fiercely fought matches between the two teams. If you are lucky enough (locals will turn absolutely green with envy) to have tickets, be prepared for a loud and boisterous crowd

Coaching changes on the Palermo soccer team have made the last few seasons a bit uneven for the squad. Traditionally, Palermo soccer is a Serie A team with strong Champions League chances and several UEFA Cups. What the upcoming seasons will bring is anyone’s guess, but if you like the sport, or just want to experience Palermo natives at their proudest, venturing out to the Stadio Renzo Barbera will be a memory to be treasured.

Plan your Palermo transportation with a car rental in Palermo. You can get around easily with a car rental in Palermo, Italy. Browse a list of companies to select the best option to rent a car in Palermo. With information from Palermo.com – renting a car in Italy is easy.

Roam Freely With Car Rental In Palermo

Car rental in Palermo allows you to explore the different areas of the city and the surrounding zone on your schedule. You will be able to quickly run out to Bagheria or to the nature park at Monte Pellegrino without having to wait for a bus or look for a taxi. As long as you have your GPS (and most rentals do) you will be the master of the island.

To make sure that your car rental in Palermo goes smoothly, you will want to be sure you understand the rules for renting a car in Italy. In general, you will want to be sure that you have reserved a car in advance. This is especially important for car rental in Palermo, Italy, as the island of Sicily does not have an unlimited supply of cars, especially in the peak summer months with local tourists compete with international travelers for the supply.

To rent a car in Palermo, the highest concentration of agencies can be found at the international airport. As in most places in America, pick up and drop off points are the same unless a special arrangement has been made. AutoEurope, Hertz, Holiday Auto, Sixt, Easy Car and other local and multinational chains maintain rental desks on the first floor of the airport.

When you are renting a car in Italy, you should be prepared for a manual transmission. Automatics are rare, and even if requested they may not be available on the day your arrive. You will also want to double check your auto insurance, or consider purchasing the rental agency’s car protections program. Those unfamiliar with the traffic laws in Palermo and the aggressive style of the local drivers are likely to suffer a few bumper touches.

Italian driving styles have calmed considerably since the driver’s license point system was redone to enforce license loss in the event of multiple accidents. However, speeding, passing without adequate signaling, and the general use of turn signals are areas of concern for foreign drivers. Your rental car should come with a copy of the relevant local laws, or you can request one from the rental desk.

Caveats about driving styles aside, there really is nothing like driving off into the Italian countryside under your own power. Car rental in Palermo can give you the freedom to cruise the coast at your leisure, and marvel in all the beautiful things that Sicily has to offer.

While you are in Palermo add a little excitement on the water to your trip. Rent a boat in Italy and enjoy the beautiful views. Sailing in Italy is a great activity. Find boats in Italy or information on where you can enjoy your travels in Palermo on the water.

Boating Offers A Chance To Explore Palermo’s Offshore Attractions

As an island, Sicily cries out to be explored by boat. During your stay in Palermo, you will have many opportunities to look out over the harbor and see the boats coming in to dock. If you have ever dreamed of sailing in Italy, there is no reason to wait. Thanks to the large marina and the many private boat slips, you can rent a boat in Italy on very short notice and be well on your way to exploring the beautiful Tyrrhenian Sea.

Boats in Italy are available in a number of different classes to holiday makers. Obviously, the easiest and cheapest boat to rent will be a simple pedal boat or row boat. These are available at Mondello and many other smaller beaches, and can be rented by the hour.

For larger boats in Italy, it may be necessary to leave a deposit. Speed boats are popular rentals in the larger harbors for water sports or small fishing excursions. You may also find small sailboats readily available if you want to try sailing in Italy. Operators may require you to demonstrate that you know what you are doing with their boat in Italy before they send you out into the water, and you may need to sign some forms.

Yachts, deep water fishing boats, and charter boats can also be hired. To rent these boats in Italy, it can be much faster if you agree to hire the captain with the boat. You may want to do this anyway for your own navigational and personal comfort.

In Palermo, Siremar S.P.A., Tirrenia di Navigazione S.P.A., and Ferrovie dello Stato are the main ferry lines and boat runners. Happy Charter, EuropaFloat, and YAIF also provide charter yacht service. Yachts can be hired by the hour, although they are generally hired by the day or by the week.

While it may seem like an intimidating prospect up front, many of the rental companies do have English language assistance and you may also be able to get help from a travel agency or hotel concierge in renting your boat. Boating in Italy is certainly a memorable experience, so don’t let a little paperwork up front dissuade you from living your dream.

From Palermo, you can quickly be around the bend to Mondello or on your way out to explore the Aeolian Islands. With a bit of wind and a smooth sea, it will be easy to settle into the sheer pleasure of sailing in Italy.

Palermo’s Train System Offers Mainland And Regional Connections

Many people who are not familiar with Sicily think of it as a small Italian island and forget that it is a regional power with its own train networks. It is also connected back to the mainland via the bridges over the Messina straights. In Palermo, train service is regular, reliable, inexpensive and a convenient way to move between destinations.

To get your ticket, you can either buy a ticket online from TrenItalia, or you can purchase a ticket directly at the station. Generally, for local travel most tickets can be bought from either the train agent or one of the machines at the station.

You will need to validate your ticket before you get on the train at a validation machine. Conductors may not seem to be in evidence, but they do check ticket holders periodically and assess instant fines for not having a valid ticket to travel.

Local Trains

Palermo trains operate out of district stations and offer service from the center of town to the harbor, suburbs, and local outposts such as Bagheria. Daily service is light in the early and late evening hours but quite regular throughout the day and especially at peak hours. Do not expect a seat during rush hours, which are between 8 – 9 am and 12 – 1 pm.

Regional (Sicilian) Trains

There are multiple daily departures between Palermo and the other towns in Sicily. In general, for ease of travel, if you are using the trains for exploring the island you will want to mimic the American hub and spoke system. Use Palermo or Catania as your hub and then spoke out to the smaller towns.

While this may seem like it encourages backtracking, remember that its all about the schedule. There are frequent trains into the main cities, but not as many trains linking the smaller towns to each other. To avoid spending extra time in the countryside, it is best to return to the main city.

Mainland Connections

Two of the most popular long distance train connections back to the mainland arrive at the Palermo train station from Rome and Naples. Tickets for the overnight Palermo train to the mainland do sell out, especially in the high season, so you will want to reserve these tickets in advance. In some cases, you may be able to purchase them from a travel agent at your hotel, who can help you with booking a sleeper chamber.

Find a Palermo airport and gather all the information you need for you travels. Palermo.com offers information on Palermo airports in Sicily including the Palermo International Airport.

Palermo’s Dual Airports Make Arrivals and Departures Easy

Palermo airports have a long history in Sicily. The first airport was built here in the 1920’s, and with the opening of the Palermo airport Sicily was well and truly linked to the mainland. Palermo’s Boccadifalco airport was located in the outskirts of town in those days, and was one of Italy’s first airfields.

However, Boccadifalco was unable to keep up with Palermo’s swift pace of growth and development. It had been heavily used in World War II by Allied forces, and as the third busiest airport in Italy in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the town council quickly moved for the building of another airport. When the new airport opened in 1960, Boccadifalco began its transition to private and regional travel.

Now, you can charter flights here for personal travel, or catch regional connections to Enna and the Aeolian Islands. This older Palermo airport has been surrounded by the city, making it just a few minutes journey from the central zone. Buses and taxis provide access.

If you fly into Palermo, it is much more likely now that you will arrive at the modern Palermo International airport. This airport provides regional and international connections, and sits 22 miles outside of the main town area in a zone known as Punta Raisi. In this Palermo airport, Italy maintains one of its busiest hubs.

The airport is even busier in the summer, when many additional direct flights to the island are added to accommodate the summer high season demand. Eurofly offers direct service from JFK to Palermo in July – October. Delta and Alitalia offer connecting service through Milan, and travelers connecting to Dublin or London can catch a Ryanair flight to the island.

Getting to and from the Palermo International airport is simple, and there are many choices for the way to do it. The choice depends on the relative value you place on time and money.

Traveling by taxi provides the most prompt service, although you should expect to pay between €50 – €70 for your fare. Taxis serve the airport around the clock, but you should always settle on a fare price before taking the taxi and be sure that the dispatcher understands your destination.

Train service to and from the International airport picks up and drops off travelers at the Centrale, Notarbartolo, and Francia stations. Service runs regularly throughout the day, averaging about two trains per hour. Train fare is €8.

Buses are another popular option, and the information desk can help you match a bus route to your hotel. Buses leave every 30 minutes for the central train station and stop at the Politeamo, providing multiple opportunities for other connections. Bus fare is €5,30 and buses run from 4 am to 11 pm.

Travel to Palermo and have a Palermo travel agent assist you with your arrangements. Palermo travel is a great way to visit many popular attractions including palaces, museums, and cathedrals. A travel agent can help arrange a place to stay and things to do in Palermo.

Travel Agents Allow You To Focus On Enjoying Your Palermo Vacation

While an international vacation always sounds like a nice adventure, it can be hard to enjoy planning such a trip. If you are considering travel to Palermo, you know that you have to book your flights, get your hotel, check the theater schedule, buy day trip tickets, and so on before you leave. If the mere thought stresses you out, you may want to consider using a Palermo travel agent to book your trip.

Many modern travel agents specializing in Italian vacations do much more than simply buy your tickets. Instead, they serve as travel consultants, helping you ensure that you get what you want out of your vacation. They can help you consider your entertainment options, interests, and hobbies well in advance so that each day of your vacation is a meaningful and memorable experience.

Palermo travel presents a special challenge, as there are so many aspects of the city to explore. Working with your tour operator, you can determine the angle from which you would like to approach the city. You can slice it almost any way you like-culinary escape, historical retreat, or sports outing. Once you have determined your focus, you may be surprised at the inside access and special tours a travel consultant can arrange on your behalf.

To help you connect with some of the tour operators and Palermo travel agents who may be able to assist you in planning your perfect vacation, Palermo.com has prepared a list of some of your choices. This list in no way constitutes an endorsement of the services provided, but rather hopes to serve as a starting point for your research into a travel partner who can meet your needs and give you the Italian vacation you’ve been dreaming about for years.

Travel companies specializing in Sicily and Palermo:

• www.Sicilytravel.net offers local guides and private drivers doing escorted tours in a number of languages. Genealogy and regional tours for singletons and groups are available.

• www.Sicily-Concierge.com offers personalized and luxury travel packages focusing on the island’s unique attractions. You work with one consultant throughout the process.

• www.bestsicilyguides.com has a city by city listing of tour guides that have been independently recommended and whom you can contact directly. Each guide has their languages spoken indicated.

• www.endlessbeginnings.com is a Conde Nast award winning luxury travel service specializing in highly personalized Italian vacations.

Find your way around in Palermo or how to get to Palermo with a Palermo Italy map. You can also locate an airport with the Palermo airport map and plan your transportation. A little planning ahead with Palermo.com can save you valuable time during your vacation.

Palermo Offers Many Options For Transport Connections

When you located Palermo, Italy map markings might initially make the city seem like an isolated outpost on the far side of Sicily away from the mainland. Nothing could be further from the truth! As a major commercial hub for the island, Palermo is well connected to the mainland and the rest of Europe. In fact, the biggest transportation challenge in Palermo is deciding which way you would like to get there and away.

Travel Agent Bookings

If you are unsure of your Italian, reluctant to experiment, or traveling with a group, you may want to pursue travel agent bookings for your transfers into and out of the city. Most travel agents serving Palermo provide much more than a Palermo airport map and a pat on the back-they can arrange door to door guided service for passengers, bags, and pets.

Airport Options

Palermo airport transportation is facilitated by two airports serving the city. The Palermo International Airport sits west of the city, connecting back to the main town area via bus, train, or taxi. It services pan-European and mainland destinations. The other airport in Palermo, Boccadiflaco, caters to independent pilots, and offers regional transport to Enna as well as the Aeolian islands.

Train Connections

Trenitalia, the national rail service of Italy, operates trains from the mainland to and from Palermo as well as from Palermo to the rest of Sicily. Visit our section to read more information on Palermo trains.

Rental Cars & Taxis

It is possible to rent a car at the airport, or to rent a car on the mainland and drive it over via the highways or a ferryboat connection. While a rental car can provide considerable freedom for exploring the island, parking is tight in Palermo and traffic rules are somewhat loose. If you are new to Italian driving styles, avoiding peak hours will help you ease into the flow.

Taxis serve both the airport and the city. There are standard flag fall rates and most drivers speak some English to help you find your way around the city.

Ferries and Boats

Palermo’s ports are constantly busy with connecting passengers. In addition to the cruise ship port for the major cruise lines, there are a number of regional ferry connections.

Ferry service is available to and from Genoa, Civitàvecchia, Naples, Malta, and Cagliari on a daily basis, and many of the ferries offer drive aboard service. Private boat slips at the marina also allow yachts, sailboats, and private vessels to dock at their leisure.