Palermo

Baroque octagonal crossroads (1620) where Via Maqueda meets Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo's symbolic centre. Leashed dogs welcome 24/7.

Official dog beach 11 km north, signed at the western end (Valdesi). Fine sand, crystal water, year-round. Bus 806 from Politeama in 20 min.

Sicily's largest urban park, 400 ha at the foot of Monte Pellegrino. Royal reserve created 1799 by Ferdinand III, today a tangle of paths, citrus groves and pine woods. The Palermitani's flagship dog walk.

UNESCO Arab-Norman cathedral started 1185, layered with Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassical additions. Dogs not allowed inside (except assistance dogs); outdoor square and Norman walls accessible.

Palermo's oldest and most vibrant street market, dating to the 10th-c. Arab era. Vegetable, fish and street food stalls, traditional 'abbanniate' calls. Walkable with a short-leashed dog.

2 km traffic-free seafront promenade from the port to the Kalsa quarter. Lawn strips, palm trees, sea breeze. The summer-evening dog hub of Palermo.