Palermo Cathedral - Palermo, Sicily, Italy - Roman Catholic Churches on Waymarking.com

Palermo Cathedral was erected in 1185 by Gualtiero Offamiglio (a.k.a. Walter Ophamil and Walter of the Mill) by order of King William II's minister the Anglo-Norman archbishop of Palermo. Over its history there have been many additions, alterations and restorations. Consequently it displays many architectural styles. Originally a Norman-Arab cathedral it including elements of Norman, Moorish, Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture.

The Cathedral is a large rectangular structure about 350' long by 190' wide. It has a pair of Norman Arab style towers at the opposite front corners and a Baroque dome in the center constructed in the late 18th century. The second level has Baroque small cupolas by Fernando Fufa. At the entrance, on the west side facing the large courtyard, is a wide portico with contains three rounded opening created by Domenico and Antonello Gagini in Gothic-Catalan style, in 1465.

Of interest inside is the Chapel of St. Rosalia which contains a reliquary with the remains of the patron saint of Palermo. A meridian line oriented to an opening in the ceiling on which the sun shines on the appropriate zodiac sign and a beautiful stoup for containing holy water attributed to Domenico Gagni.

Type of Church: Cathedral Status of Building: Actively in use for worship Date of organization: 01/01/1185 Date of building construction: 01/01/1185 Dominant Architectural Style: Arab-Norman Associated Shrines, Art, etc.: Chapel of St. Rosalia, Meridian Line Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Palermo Diocese: Palermo Address/Location: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 90400 Palermo, Italy Relvant Web Site: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/04/2018 ROLLERS2 visited it