Sicilian swordfish at the Ballarò market in Palermo

by Silva Wischeropp

This funny and magical weekly market scene was taken during my Easter and photo trip on 14 April 2022 in the Sicilian capital Palermo. A huge swordfish head lies directly in the display at the fish stall of the well-known and popular weekly market in the Ballaro district. The photo was taken with the NIKON D800 camera (lens: NIKKOR 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8).
The Ballarò market has existed for over 1,000 years and is the most picturesque street market in the Sicilian capital and probably one of the liveliest in Europe.
The lively market is located in the multicultural and multilingual neighbourhood of Albergheria. In addition to Arabic, you will also hear many other languages spoken here. The Ballarò market got its name from the nearby village of Bahlara, which was home to merchants of the Arab dominion and where the goods for sale came from. It is visited by hundreds of people every day and as you enter the market, you are constantly accompanied by the loud and often quite colourful shouts of the various traders inviting you to buy their wares.
This picturesque invitation is called "abbanniata" in Palermitan dialect. And indeed, listening to this "folk music" typical of historic markets is part of the spectacle.
Ballaró is famous for selling products from the Palermo hinterland. It is mainly a food market where fruit, vegetables, meat and fish are sold.
If you've had enough browsing and need a little break, you can take a seat at one of the many small wooden tables and try one of the local specialities.
The market offers many ready-cooked dishes and street food that are typical of Palermitan cuisine. How about a deep-fried aubergine stuffed with meat or cheese, for example?