Castellammare o Loggia

Castellammare o Loggia is an administrative district in central Palermo positioned between Via Maqueda, Via Vittorio Emanuele, Via Cavour, and Via Crispi in a polygonal layout. The area contains a mix of residential buildings, shops, churches, and museums that serve both daily community needs and cultural attractions.

The district took its name from Castello a Mare, a medieval fortress that stood until 1923 when authorities demolished it following damage from the 1860 uprising. This naming choice reflects the historical importance of that fortification to the area's past.

The Vucciria market operates as a daily gathering place where vendors sell fresh produce, local goods, and handmade items from small stalls. Locals move through the narrow passages, stopping to chat and shop, making it a center of neighborhood life and tradition.

The district is best explored on foot since the streets are narrow and crowded, especially around the market area. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time to wander slowly through the streets without rushing.

The district holds the Church of San Giorgio dei Genovesi with its distinctive Renaissance design and the Regional Archaeological Museum Salinas, which houses collections spanning thousands of years of history. These sites, along with multiple noble family palaces, create a connected network of historical points that visitors often miss while focused on the market.