Built in 1885, Palermo Centrale is one of the oldest Italian stations still in operation. Its monumental facade is a testament to the eclectic architectural style typical of late-19th-century Palermo. The classical and Renaissance elements were reinterpreted in the interior decorations, wrought iron, cuts of Bagheria and Cinisi stones, and the furnishings of the reception and waiting rooms.

The authorship of the station remains uncertain to this day, but the architectural design shows the influence of Ernesto Basile and his school. The original structure, which was destroyed during the last war, featured a large canopy with elegant iron and glass lines, supported by arched trusses, covering the tracks.

Although the architectural unity, elegance, and proportionality of the forms have been preserved, the complex has been compromised in its original quality and functionality due to the removal of the canopy and a series of discontinuous interventions carried out between 1950 and 1960.