Church of San Cataldo

Palermo, Italy

Erected in 1154 as a notable example of the Arab-Norman architecture which flourished in Sicily under Norman rule on the island, the Church of San Cataldo is annexed to that of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio. In the 19th century it was restored and brought back to a form more similar to the original medieval edifice.

The church has a rectangular plan with blind arches, partially occupied by windows. The ceiling has three characteristics red, bulge domes (cubole) and Arab-style merlons. The church provides a typical example of the Arab-Norman architecture, which is unique to Sicily. The plan of the church shows the predilection of the Normans for simple and severe forms, derived from their military formation. Moreover, the building shows how international the language of Norman architecture was at the time, as the vocabulary which marks parts of the church, like the bell tower, can be tracked down in coeval buildings like the cathedral of Laon and the Abbaye aux Dames in Caen, both in Northern France, or the cathedral of Durham in England. At the same time, the church shows features shared by Islamic and Byzantine architecture, such as the preference for cubic forms, the blind arches which articulate the external walls of the church and the typical spherical red domes on the roof.

The interior has a nave with two aisles. The naked walls are faced by spolia columns with Byzantine style arcades. The pavement is the original one and has a splendid mosaic decoration. Also original is the main altar.

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Details

Founded: 1154
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

David Weber (32 days ago)
Of all the churches to visit in Palermo, this was the best one for me. It is understated and elegant. Definitely worth a visit.
Andrew (32 days ago)
Unless you are extremely interested in ancient architecture, I would skip this church. Unlike the one next door, it's very sparsely decorated. There isn't much to see. It's also very small. Visit the church next door and admire this one from the outside.
Monte carlo Spazum (3 months ago)
The fact that you must pay to see an old stone room... no. That should be a sin. It states that it literally only fits 20 people standing (sitting is forbidden). Its cheap, only 2.50 euro but thats 2.50 euro to look at a stone built room that fossils used to visit. The outside is a better experience than the room. Dont do it.
Knud Hermansen (6 months ago)
The three dome church. Fascinating for its Arab influence. When you look at it from the outside with it's domes and from the inside with its geometric patterns you could believe someone if they told you it was a mosque and not a church. Very simple without the mosaics of the fancier churches but very beautiful in its simplicity.
Zongle (7 months ago)
Constructed in the 12th century during the Norman rule of Sicily, the church is known for its distinctive red domes and Arab-Norman architectural style. The church has a simple yet elegant design, with three red domes representing the Holy Trinity. The church reflects cultural influences of Norman and Arab civilizations in Sicily during that period of time.
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