Palermo Cathedral, Medieval cathedral in Palermo, Italy
Palermo Cathedral is a large religious building in Palermo that combines Norman, Arab and Gothic construction styles. Two tall towers frame the main entrance, while the interior holds several chapels and a wide nave.
Archbishop Walter founded the cathedral in 1185 on a site where a Byzantine church once stood, later turned into a mosque. Over the centuries, later rulers and churchmen added chapels, tombs and new facade elements.
The cathedral contains royal tombs of Norman kings and German emperors, including Frederick II and Roger II, housed in red porphyry sarcophagi within its walls.
Entry to the church itself is free, while a separate climb to the rooftops and royal tombs requires a ticket. Early morning hours work well for a quieter visit before tour groups arrive.
A narrow brass strip runs across the floor in the main nave and marks a meridian line laid out by astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi in the 18th century. A small hole in the ceiling lets a ray of light fall onto this line at noon, which once helped measure time and the position of the sun.
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