Palermo Cathedral

Palermo, Italy

Palermo Cathedral was erected in 1185 by Walter Ophamil (or Walter of the Mill), the Anglo-Norman archbishop of Palermo and King William II's minister, on the area of an earlier Byzantine basilica. By all accounts this earlier church was founded by Pope Gregory I and was later turned into a mosque by the Saracens after their conquest of the city in the 9th century. Ophamil is buried in a sarcophagus in the church's crypt. The medieval edifice had a basilica plan with three apses, of which only some minor architectural elements survive today.

The upper orders of the corner towers were built between the 14th and the 15th centuries, while in the early Renaissance period the southern porch was added. The present neoclassical appearance dates from the work carried out over the two decades 1781 to 1801, supervised by Ferdinando Fuga and Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia. During this period the great retable by Gagini, decorated with statues, friezes and reliefs, was destroyed and the sculptures moved to different parts of the basilica. Also by Fuga are the great dome emerging from the main body of the building, and the smaller domes covering the aisles' ceilings.

In the right aisle, in the first and second chapel communicating with one another, are the monumental tombs of King Roger II, his daughter Queen Constance I of Sicily, her husband Emperor Henry VI, and their son Emperor Frederick II, as well as the burials of Frederick's first wife Constance of Aragon and his great-great-grandson William II, Duke of Athens on the side walls. 

Palermo Cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale.

 

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Founded: 1185
Category: Religious sites in Italy

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Tomasz Chmura (15 months ago)
I visited a lot of places in Palermo, but this one was the most entertaining of all. I am atheist but you will certainly be overwhelmed by the majestic and glorious interiors. View from the top of the the roof is definitely worth climbing those stairs. I was already tired from walking a lot, yet the beauty of the place kept me going. Wonderful, wonderful place and very helpful crew. Literally highlight of my trip to Palermo.
Paul Swarbrick (15 months ago)
Lots to see, not just a big church. They have a huge collection of religious artifacts dating back almost a thousand years, and how some of these objects have survived is incredible. Make sure you buy a ticket for roof access to climb the tiny staircase for incredible views across the city to the mountains.
Kevin Wray (17 months ago)
Lovely Cathedral. Plenty to keep you occupied including roof walk at very reasonable cost. Fortunate to be there for Mass.Though not allowed into the body of the Cathedral there to see the procession. Also nice little cafes and shops close by.
martina (2 years ago)
Very nice but did not pay the roof or tombs as i do not know if they are worth the price. Kinda regret not going to the roof now lol. Very beautiful place regardless
András Lux (2 years ago)
Nice cathedral, not overdecorated combining different styles from different centuries. Not that special compared to others around Europe or the chapel in the palace. There is an option to visit the treasury, crypts and rooftop for 12€ - treasury is OK, crypts are OK, really the best part of the entire visit is rooftop and the view from there.
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