Marsala Cathedral, Baroque cathedral in Marsala, Italy

Marsala Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Thomas Becket, faces Piazza della Repubblica and via Giuseppe Garibaldi. Its lower facade order is Baroque, while the upper order and bell tower were completed a century later in the barocchetto style. The interior follows a basilica plan with a Norman high altar and Baroque side chapels; the Baptistery Chapel holds a 17th-century marble font with a 19th-century wooden octagonal cupola.

The cathedral was started in 1176 under Bishop Tutino during the Norman period in Sicily, and it was consecrated before the end of that century. The building was changed several times over the following centuries, and the baroque facade seen today is the result of later renovations.

The dedication to Thomas Becket stems from Norman Sicily's ties with England: William II married Joan, daughter of Henry II, and supported the cult of the archbishop murdered in 1170. The church was consecrated between Becket's canonisation in 1173 and the end of William II's reign in 1189. In the Cappella del Battistero, a 17th-century marble font with a 19th-century octagonal wooden cupola stands where the baptismal painting once was.

The cathedral sits on the main square of Marsala and is easy to reach on foot from most of the town center. Visiting outside of religious services is a good idea if you want to move around freely and look at the interior details.

According to local tradition, a ship carrying Corinthian columns meant for a church in England was blown off course by strong winds and ended up near the coast of Marsala. The people of the town are said to have decided to keep the columns and use them in their own cathedral.