Benjamin portrays Palermo as a prosperous and well-governed city on the island of Sicily, rich in natural resources and architectural marvels. He emphasizes the king’s domain, including a garden called Al Harbina, which contains every type of fruit tree, a large fountain, and an enclosed reservoir called Al Buheira with fish. The king owns ships overlaid with gold and silver, illustrating both wealth and leisure. Benjamin describes palaces with walls painted and overlaid with precious metals, and marble floors designed with intricate gold and silver patterns. For a medieval traveler, these details signal Palermo’s opulence and sophistication, setting it apart from other Mediterranean cities.

The city also functions as a hub for pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem, suggesting its significance within broader religious and commercial networks. Benjamin notes the Jewish population of around 1,500, alongside numerous Christians and Mohammedans, reflecting the city’s religious diversity. He highlights the fertility of the surrounding land, including abundant springs, gardens, wheat, and barley, which support both local sustenance and trade. Palermo is thus a city where commerce, agriculture, and political power converge, offering travelers both material resources and social insight.

From a practical perspective, Benjamin provides travel information: Palermo is roughly two days’ journey from Messina, and from there pilgrims cross to Jerusalem. Distances, populations, and local economic products are carefully noted, demonstrating the interconnectedness of Mediterranean trade and pilgrimage networks. Travelers would find Palermo not only a place of beauty and wealth but also a logistical waypoint for longer journeys.

Interpreting Benjamin’s description, one can see that his attention to material wealth, gardens, and palaces underscores medieval values regarding power and status. His continued interest in Jewish populations suggests a concern with both communal welfare and potential assistance for Jewish travelers. The combination of leisure, commerce, and strategic location would have made Palermo a model city in Benjamin’s eyes: a place where political authority, economic activity, and cultural diversity were all very evident.

Overall, Palermo emerges as a site of wealth, religious and cultural diversity, and strategic importance, offering insights into the networks that shaped medieval life. Benjamin’s account blends factual travel information with his own religious/cultural concerns, making it both a practical guide and a reflection of Jewish experience.

In addition, Benjamin provides information on Messina, which lies about two days’ journey from Palermo along the northeastern coast of Sicily. Messina serves as the initial port of arrival for travelers coming from the eastern Mediterranean and functions as a critical waypoint for pilgrims heading to Jerusalem. He notes the fertility of the area, with gardens and plantations that supply both the local population and visitors, highlighting the city’s role in provisioning travelers. Though smaller than Palermo, Messina’s position on the sea makes it an important logistical hub, connecting Sicily with broader Mediterranean trade and pilgrimage routes. By including Messina, Benjamin emphasizes the practical side of travel: while Palermo showcases wealth and cultural prominence, Messina ensures access, sustenance, and maritime connectivity for those on extended journeys.