Starting it all off with the city of Palermo, capital of Sicily and famous for its unique and distinctive beauty, will play host to the opening stage of the 91st Giro d’Italia.

The team time trial that kicks off proceedings will offer a glimpse of a stunning range of landscapes, monuments, and architectural and tourist sites, providing a fitting overview of the first-rate cultural heritage that Palermo has to offer.

Palermo is Sicily’s most important city and is located alongside the Gulf of Palermo on the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the foot of Monte Pellegrino and adjacent to the renowned Conca d’Oro. The city’s long and eventful history is reflected by its myriad of famous landmarks dating from different eras: the Palazzo Reale; the Cathedral, built between 1170 and 1185; Zisa Castle, an illustrious Arab Norman monument; Teatro Massimo; and a series of churches and buildings of great value that bear testament to Palermo’s rich history. A history that, through the ages, has been marked by intense cultural activity.

Technically speaking, the characteristics of the route chosen for the team time trial are perfect for this sort of race, enabling the cyclists to build up to maximum speed. A flat and smooth course that begins in the spectacular Piazza Politeama and finishes at the striking Teatro Massimo.