Piazza Armerina Cathedral, Baroque cathedral in Piazza Armerina, Italy.
Piazza Armerina Cathedral is a baroque church set on a hilltop at the center of the old town, its dome visible from many points in the city. Two bell towers frame a pale stone facade, and the interior is divided into side chapels lined with paintings and sculptures.
The cathedral was built in 1604 over the remains of an older church from the 1400s, which had itself stood on the site of an earlier place of worship. The dome that defines its skyline today was added in 1768, giving the building its current form.
The cathedral houses a venerated image of the Madonna delle Vittorie, brought to the city following a local victory in 1480. Each August, it is carried through the streets in a procession that draws people from the surrounding towns.
The church sits on a hilltop in the historic center and is reached on foot through cobbled streets. Access for sightseeing may be limited during services, so visiting outside of morning and early evening hours is generally more open.
Inside the church hangs a double-sided crucifix painted on both faces, showing the crucifixion on one side and the resurrection on the other. This means a visitor can see two central moments of Christian faith on a single object simply by walking around it.
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