Palermo Trinacria

About the Trinacria

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, Italy, known for its iconic Trinacria symbol - a three-legged symbol from Sicilian mythology representing the island's triangular shape. The city combines ancient history with vibrant Mediterranean culture, featuring the stunning Norman-Arab architecture, the beautiful Palermo Cathedral, the historic markets of Ballarò and Vucciria, and the rich cultural heritage that reflects its diverse past.

Better known as the triskeles, the three-legged figure with a central head appears on coins of Syracuse and other Sicilian mints from roughly the third century BC, and it takes its name from Trinacria, the ancient Greek term for the island's three capes: Pelorus, Pachynus and Lilybaeum. The Gorgon head with wheat ears at its center is a later addition, and the emblem was formally adopted on the flag of the Sicilian Region, whose modern use dates from 2000. It therefore functions as an island-wide emblem rather than a municipal one. It cannot be verified that the Trinacria is genuinely a symbol of Palermo specifically; the city's own historic emblem is the golden eagle, used on its coat of arms and civic buildings.