Palermo stands as the capital of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, located at the southern tip of Italy near Tunisia and Malta. With a population of 676,000 and a metropolitan area exceeding 1.3 million, it serves as the cultural and economic hub of the island. Evidence of human habitation in Palermo dates back to 8000 BC, with cave drawings indicating its long-standing history. Historically, Palermo was ruled by a succession of powers including the Romans, Germanic tribes, Arabs, and Christians during the 1000s.