Cassaro, Palermo
| Sicilian: u Càssaru | |
View of Palermo (plate n. 56) from Volume 4 of Civitates Orbis Terrarum. Cassaro appears as the long road in the middle of the city.
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| Former name(s) | As-Simat Al-Balat, Platea Marmorea, Via Toledo |
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| Length | 1.8 km (1.1 mi) |
| Location | Palermo, Sicily, Italy |
| Coordinates | Quattro Canti: 38°06′57″N 13°21′41″E / 38.11583°N 13.36139°ECoordinates: 38°06′57″N 13°21′41″E / 38.11583°N 13.36139°E |
The Cassaro (Sicilian: u Càssaru) is the most ancient street of Palermo. Following the unification of Italy, it has been officially renamed Via Vittorio Emanuele II, but the old and distinctive name is still in use. The street is rooted in the age of the foundation of Palermo by the Phoenicians. It provides access to a number of important sights, including the Royal Palace (also known as Palazzo dei Normanni) and the Cathedral, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The name "Cassaro" comes from the Arabic word "Qasr" (fortress, castle). In fact, during the era of the Islamic Sicily, Panormus, called Balarm by the Saracens, became the island's capital and a large portion of the ancient city was widely fortified. In the Middle Ages, especially during the Islamic and Norman periods, the street was also called "As-Simat Al-Balat" (Arabic) and "Via (Platea) Marmorea" (Latin) because it was paved with slabs of marble. Even now, the Arabic word "balat(a)" is used in Sicily to indicate the marble.
In the late sixteenth century, during the age of the personal union between the crowns of Spain and Sicily, the street assumed the name of "Via Toledo" in honor of the Viceroy García de Toledo Osorio, the main architect of its rectification. This denomination lasted until the unification of Italy, when the street was officially dedicated to the King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. However, the ancient name "Cassaro" never was abandoned by the people.
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