sicily holidays | sicily vacation | hotels in sicily

Palermo’s diversity becomes clear with every attempt of discovery. Various dishes, multiple handcrafts, an enticing offer for the night life and last but not least a great variety of styles that dominate the architectural chain put together the omnipresent eclecticism.

As far as the architectural hybrid goes, it is known that the Palermo Cathedral is no stranger. Moreover it holds this feature as its prominent characteristic. Its existence began in 1184 and was initiated by the Anglo-Norman Archbishop of Palermo. The site of the foundation had witnessed the existence of two previous ecclesiastic bowers: the earlier church founded by St. Gregory followed by its transformation into a mosque by the Saracens in the 9th century. Of the former edifice only remain few elements, poorly visible.

The exterior is quite impressive, especially since there are two arcades that communicate with the two wings of the cathedral. These ogival arcades step over the street in order to connect the 14th century façade to the Archbishop’s Palace. The facade is joined on each side by two towers and also has a Gothic portal with a fine 15th century piece representing the Madonna.

The right side is marked by a Gothic-Catalan wide portico. Three arcades from 1465 can be admired on the same side. Various characters participated in what this side presently has to offer. Antonio Gambara is the author of the portal that originates from the 1426-1430 period and Francesco Miranda is the one who executed the wooden leafs in 1432. Also, excellent representations of King Charles III of Bourbon and Amadeus II of Sardinia adorn the walls since the 18th century.

The apse zone is another keeper for several elements of the original building but they are overlooked by the more recent part of the church which is the left side, marked by a 16th century portal designed by Antonello Gagini. The 14th and the 15th centuries are also present as they impose their own features to the south-western façade.

The interior is another exciting story. It houses a series of preciously decorated chapels of which two preserve royal tombs. Next to them there are other richly decorated ones such as the Sacrament adorned with a rare semi-precious stone long praised for its blue color. The cycle continues with the chapel of Saint Rosalia and is closed by a strongly decorated bronze gate. One of the most interesting remains the Relics Chapel which is the bearer of various relics such as those of St. Christiana, St. Ninfa, St. Cosma and St. Mamilianus.

The choir displays two unique works of art, a fine marble statue of the Madonna with Child signed by Francesco Laurana (1469) and Chiaramonte’s Crucifix (13th century). Gagini’s Madonna della Scala rests on the altar of the new sacristy this way enhancing the fineness of the religious artistry that built the cathedral’s distinction. An ecclesiastic dwelling becomes even more fascinating if the crypt is open for visits. It is the case of Palermo’s Cathedral that shelters a cross vault crypt in which tombs from the Roman, Byzantine and Norman ages are housed.

An unexpected asset is the 1690 heliometer, an instrument built for measuring the sun’s diameter, although the present form offers a
wider range of use. The original purpose was to define time and inherently the calendar. The instrument creates a dominating attraction for everybody, especially scientists who wish to take a look at an extremely rudimentary tool of time measurement.
This vast religious territory does not endeavor fascination because it becomes an imminent reaction for everyone who appreciates architectural greatness.