Palermo (på-lûr´ m) is the largest city and the chief port on the island of Sicily. It has a population of about 340,000. This makes it about the size of Newark, N. J. It is also the center of the island's educational system, its military power, and its church affairs. Palermo is nicknamed "the fortunate" because of its fine climate and its beautiful situation. The section about the harbor is the most beautiful part of the city. The houses are not striking in appearance. The business life of the city is largely due to its commerce. The harbor is a busy place, with its large ocean liners and its many local sailing vessels. It exports fruit, such as oranges and lemons, and sulphur. From the vineyards much wine is made, and this forms an important trade product. Palermo has had an interesting history. Like so many cities on the Mediterranean (md´ -tr-´ n-n), it was founded by the famous sailors of ancient times, the Phoenicians (f-nsh´n). They called their city Panormus (p-nôr´ ms). The legions of Carthage, a city of Northern Africa, captured the city from the Phoenicians. It was then taken by the Romans, 2,100 years ago. The Carthaginians (kär´ thå-jn´-n), under their famous general, Hamilcar Barca, tried to retake it. They besieged the city for 3 years. Since the time of the Romans it has been in the possession of the Germans and of the French, until finally it belongs to the Italians. Here you see a common sight in the streets of the city. There are many poor people of the happy-go-lucky sort. They sleep in tenement houses, but spend most of their time lounging and gossiping on the streets. You will observe that their clothes lines stretch entirely across the highway. Keystone ID: 16830 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.