Introduction to Mondello

12km (7 1/2 miles) W of Palermo

When the summer sun burns hot, when the old men on the square seek a place in the shade, and when bambini tire of their toys, it's beach weather. For Palermo residents, that means Mondello Lido. Before this beachfront town started attracting the wealthy class of Palermo, it was a fishing village, and you can still see rainbow-colored fishing boats bobbing in the harbor. A good sandy beach stretches for about 2km (1 1/4 miles), filled to capacity on July and August days. Tip: Some women traveling alone find Mondello more inviting and less intimidating than Palermo.