Published on the 04-08-2008

Palermo ready for Sultan's visit

Hopes are running high here that the Sultan of Oman will be a generous as he was to the city of Bari earlier this year when he begins his visit to the Sicily on Tuesday.

In May, Sultan Qabus bin Said al-Said donated five million euros to Bari to fund scholarships at the city's conservatory of music and pay for the acquisition of medical instruments for the city's children's hospital.

The 68-year-old sultan also showered local officials with numerous gold watches.

The sultan is set to arrive with his private Jumbo jet at Punta Raisi airport where he will be welcomed with the honors of a head of state.

He will then be taken by helicopter to his 155-meter yacht, the second-largest privately-owned vessel in the world, which is docked in Palermo harbor together with his 136-meter support yacht.

The sultan's party has occupied an entire wharf where two limousines and 24 bullet-proof Mercedes Benz cars are ready to shuttle Qabus bin Said and his guests wherever they fancy. Over 1,000 people make up

the sultan's entourage including his country's entire symphonic orchestra, which in Bari gave a special open-air concert for the city's residents.

The sultan's court will stay on the two yachts, while 190 rooms have also been reserved at Palermo's finest hotels for his other guests.

Because he is a head of state, he has ruled Oman for the past 38 years, the sultan will not meet with any local government officials nor attend any gala dinners.

Although no official explanation has been given as to why he as come to southern Italy, well-informed sources said it was due to his keen interest in the Arab culture which spread though the Mediterranean 1,000 years ago.

Local officials and businessmen are hoping that he may also be interested in investing some of his country's wealth in Sicily.

We would like to thanks italymag.co.uk for this magazine information