Palermo Cathedral looks like several buildings stitched together, and in a way it is: a Norman church of 1185 on the site of a mosque and an earlier basilica, with Gothic towers, a Catalan porch and a neoclassical dome added over six centuries. Inside lie the tombs of Sicily's Norman and Hohenstaufen rulers, including Emperor Frederick II.
Palermo Cathedral at a glance
- Where: on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, between the Quattro Canti and the Norman Palace, facing a palm-lined square.
- Built: founded in 1185; towers added in the 14th–15th centuries, south porch around 1465, interior and dome remodelled from 1781 to 1801.
- By: founded by Archbishop Walter Ophamil (Gualtiero Offamilio); the late 18th-century remodelling was led by Ferdinando Fuga and Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia.
- What it is today: the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Palermo, dedicated to the Assumption, and part of the UNESCO site Arab-Norman Palermo.
- Time needed: 30 minutes for the nave and royal tombs; an hour or more with the treasury, crypt and roof.
Church, mosque, church
A Christian basilica stood here before the Arabs took Palermo in the 9th century and turned it into a mosque. After the Normans conquered the city it became a church again, and in 1185 Walter Ophamil, archbishop and minister of King William II, began the present building. It was meant to rival the new cathedral at Monreale, built by William himself. Ophamil is buried in the crypt.
Over the following centuries each era left its mark: the upper parts of the corner towers in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Gothic-Catalan porch on the square around 1465, Renaissance portals and sculpture by the Gagini family. Between 1781 and 1801 Ferdinando Fuga and Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia remodelled the interior in a cool neoclassical style and added the large dome. They also broke up Antonello Gagini's great marble altarpiece, whose statues are now spread around the church. Two kings were crowned here in the 18th century: Victor Amadeus II of Savoy in 1713 and Charles of Bourbon in 1735.
What to look for
- The first column on the left of the south porch: it comes from the earlier mosque, and a verse from the Quran is carved on it.
- The royal tombs in the first chapels of the right aisle: porphyry sarcophagi of Roger II, the first King of Sicily, his daughter Constance, Emperor Henry VI and Frederick II.
- The meridian line in the floor in front of the high altar: a brass strip about 21 metres long with marble zodiac signs, where a spot of sunlight falls at noon through a small hole in the vault.
- The chapel of Saint Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo, behind a bronze gate, with her silver urn from the 17th century.
- The two arches spanning Via Matteo Bonello, which link the cathedral to its bell tower and the Archbishop's Palace.
- The apses at the east end, with their interlaced arches and decorated walls, the best-preserved part of the 12th-century church.
Santa Rosalia and the plague
In 1624 Palermo was struck by plague. According to tradition, Rosalia, a 12th-century hermit, appeared to a hunter and showed him where her bones lay in a cave on Monte Pellegrino. Her remains were carried through the city, the epidemic ended, and she became Palermo's patron saint. Her relics rest in the cathedral, and every July the Festino, the city's biggest festival, pulls a huge float in her honour down the Cassaro towards the sea.
Tips for your visit
- Entry to the main church is free; the royal tombs, treasury, crypt and roof are visited with a separate ticket.
- Climb to the roof terraces for close-up views of the dome and pinnacles and a wide view over the city to Monte Pellegrino.
- Visit around midday on a sunny day to see the sunlight on the meridian line.
- Cover shoulders and knees, and avoid touring during Mass.
Nearby
- Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel: the royal palace with its golden Byzantine mosaics, a few minutes' walk along the Corso.
- Porta Nuova: the triumphal gate beside the Norman Palace, built after the visit of Emperor Charles V.
- Quattro Canti: the baroque crossroads at the centre of the old town, about ten minutes' walk east.
- Capo market: one of Palermo's historic street markets, in the lanes just north of the cathedral.
See Palermo with World City Trail
Our Palermo scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 34 minutes of walking. Palermo Cathedral is one of the stops, along with the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel.
If you prefer a different format, Palermo also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Palermo scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Palermo →
Play the outdoor escape game in Palermo →
Facts checked in October 2026.