La or a Vuccirìa is an ancient, large market or bazaar area and neighborhood, with shops and tables selling products, produce, and foodstuffs located in the ancient quarter of Castellammare of central

Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...

, region of

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

, Italy. It consists of numerous pedestrian alleys and small piazzas in a crowded urban setting, is generally bounded to the North by the church and piazza of San Domenico, to the West by Via Roma, Palermo, and to the South by Via Vittorio Emanuele. Despite the dilapidated buildings and graffiti, the bustling spectacle of hawkers vociferously proffering their wares and the many food and drink establishments and dives, often open till late at night, are a draw for tourism in Palermo.

History

Like much in Palermo, the origins and etymology of Vucciria are murky. Some claim the name is allied to ''Voce'', or voice, and refers to the loud hubbub and babble of merchants. Others claim the term is a colloquial butchery of the French word ''boucherie'' or butcher's shop. Just off Via Argenteria, in a small piazza front of the ruinous facade of the ancient church of

Sant'Eulalia dei Catalani 250px, View of the upper façade. Sant'Eulalia dei Catalani is a deconsecrated church, whose Renaissance facade can still be seen on Via Argenteria #19, at the edge of the lively Vucciria market in ancient quarter of Castellammare in central Pal ...

, is one of the oldest sculptural representation of the

Genius of Palermo The Genius of Palermo (in Italian ''Genio di Palermo'', also called ''Genio'' or ''Palermo'') is one of the city symbols and the lay patron of Palermo. He was the ancient numen and genius loci of the Sicilian city. The Genius is the emblem of P ...

in the city. Initially, the Fontana del Garraffo stood in the space in front of the niche of the Genius, but was moved to the small tree lined Piazza Marina. The area includes the Piazza Garraffello and Piazza Carraciolo. Other open-air market place in Palermo include the Mercato di Capo, Ballaro, Borgio Vecchio, and Piazza Peranni.Palermo.com
tourism entry on markets.

References

{{Authority control Buildings and structures in Palermo Sicily