Palermo Cathedral, one of the jewels of Palermo
One of the architectural masterpieces of Palermo is the majestic Cathedral: let yourself be enchanted by its very particular fusion of different styles.
The great basilica of Palermo is not only the main place of worship in the city, but also one of the most important sites in Arab-Norman Sicily. In fact, since 2015 the cathedral of Palermo is part of the Unesco heritage as it is representative of the Sicilian baroque.
In this article we will delve into its fascinating history and architectural features. We will also give you useful tips to visit it and include it in your journey to discover Sicily. Finally, we will provide you with very useful details such as the opening hours of the Palermo cathedral and how to visit it inside.
Where is the Cathedral of Palermo
This Christian church dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary of the Assumption is located in the heart of the city of Palermo. It is located not far from the historic center, close to the Phoenician walls. The historic center is characterized by a young and avant-garde life. In fact, the alleys of Palermo are home to trendy clubs and restaurants where you can enjoy regional cuisine and Sicilian street food.
The Church
The church, a happy expression of multiple styles, has undergone various alterations over the centuries, sometimes questionable. The last, more powerful, was carried out at the end of the eighteenth century, when, on the occasion of the structural consolidation, the interior was radically redone based on a design by Ferdinando Fuga. In fact, in 1767, Archbishop Serafino Filangieri had commissioned Ferdinando Fuga to carry out a conservative restoration of the building, aimed solely at consolidating its structure.
The works began only in 1781, carried out not by Fuga but by Carlo Chenchi from Palermo with the assistance of Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia and lasted until the late nineteenth century. The renovations were actually much more invasive and radical than the projects of the Florentine architect, who, according to some scholars, thought instead of preserving, at least in part, the longitudinal complex of the naves and the original wooden ceiling. The restoration changed the original appearance of the complex, endowing the church with the characteristic but discordant dome, executed according to the drawings of Fuga. It was on this occasion that the precious tribune that Antonello Gagini had erected since 1510 was destroyed and which was decorated with statues, friezes and reliefs. Even the picturesque majolica domes intended to cover the side aisles date back to the reconstruction of 1781. In this cathedral, a synthesis of history and art of the last millennium in Sicily, in addition to the Norman, Swabian and Catalan kings, Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy and Charles III of Bourbon.