Palermo city, capital of the island regione of Sicily in Italy. It lies on Sicily’s northwestern coast at the head of the Bay of Palermo, facing east. Inland the city is enclosed by a fertile plain known as the Conca d’Oro (Golden Shell), which is planted with citrus groves and backed by mountains. Mount Pellegrino rises to a height of 1,988 feet (606 m) north of the city.