Mercato Ballaro, medieval in origin is an animated street market, in Palermo’s gritty Albergheria quarter, strung along Via Ballaro and Piazza del Carmine.

It has been said that there was a market here from Sicily's Muslim days. (A nod to Raleigh Trevelyan's 'The Companion Guide to Sicily’).

Ballaro is centuries old.

Artichokes, fennel, broccoli, street food and a baroque dome

Colourful awnings, umbrellas and tarpaulins are pulled tight over street stalls, shielding the fresh produce and everyday goods from sun and rain.

And the majolica tiled dome of the church, La Chiesa del Carmine Maggiore reaches to the sky in full, faded Sicilian baroque splendour.

Eternal Ballaro

Ballaro lives on. The produce is seasonal, the vocal stall holders are savvy street sellers and the regulars come for the fresh produce for sale at good prices.

These shots were taken, when I strolled through Ballaro around noon in late April when sweet strawberries and fave (broad) beans from Marasla, on Sicily’s Western coast, filled tables.

And oven baked artichokes, cooked ‘al forno’ were ready for street eating.

Salve

Suzanne