Palermo Cathedral, Palermo (must see)

In 831, Arab conquerors recorded the presence of a major Christian church on the site of today’s Palermo Cathedral, referring to it as a large “infidel temple”. They converted this structure into the Great Mosque of Palermo, which became the city’s principal place of worship during the Islamic period. In 1072, when the Normans conquered Palermo, the mosque was reconsecrated as a Christian church. This early cathedral played a ceremonial role in Norman rule, and Roger II, the first king of Sicily, was crowned here in 1130.

The present Palermo Cathedral reflects centuries of rebuilding, expansion, and restoration, resulting in an unusual mixture of architectural styles. The current structure was begun in 1185 under Walter Ophamil, the Anglo-Norman Archbishop of Palermo and a close advisor to King William II. Walter intended the new cathedral both as a statement of Norman authority and as a rival to the nearby Norman Palace. His remains are today preserved in the cathedral’s crypt.

One of the cathedral’s main entrances is located on Matteo Bonello Street, the western side of the cathedral, marked by a Gothic portal flanked by two towers. Above the portal is a niche containing a 15th-century statue of the Madonna. The most prominent entrance, however, is on the south side, where a broad Gothic-Catalan portico was added in 1465. This portico features three large arcades, decorative turrets, and rich sculptural detail.

The interior follows a Latin cross plan, with a central nave and two aisles divided by pilasters. Along the right side are chapels housing the royal tombs, including those of Roger II, Henry VI, Constance of Hauteville, and Frederick II. The cathedral’s sacred vestments, illuminated manuscripts, and the gold tiara of Constance of Aragon are preserved today in the Cathedral Treasury, located on the south side of the building, separate from the royal tombs inside the nave.

For those wishing to continue upward, access to the rooftop is located on the south-west tower, within the cathedral’s Monumental Area. A medieval stairway leads onto the roof, offering panoramic views across Palermo’s historic center.