The Palermo Cathedral, officially known as the Primatial Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Virgin Mary of the Assumption (in Italian, Cattedrale di Palermo, or Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale della Santa Vergine Maria Assunta) is the largest and most important place of Catholic worship in the Sicily region (in Italian, Sicilia).

Also known as the Duomo of Palermo (in Italian, Duomo di Palermo), this monument is one of nine religious and civic buildings inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, under the name “Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale”!

So, do you want to know How To Visit The Palermo Cathedral In 2024? Keep reading!

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Brief History of the Palermo Cathedral

The Palermo Cathedral is situated in an area close to the ancient Punic-Roman walls that surrounded the first Phoenician settlement. The idea of ​​rebuilding the Norman building is attributed to archbishop Gualtiero and dates back to 1169-1185, the year of the church’s consecration.

Dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary of the Assumption, the Palermo Cathedral still features many of the original decorative elements from the 12th century, such as lava inlays and ornamental Islamic motifs, which cover the external walls of the religious temple.

As I mentioned in the introduction, the Palermo Cathedral is one of nine religious and civic buildings dating back to the time of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily (1130-1194). Notable examples of a new architectural and artistic expression inspired by the exchange between Western, Byzantine, and Islamic cultures, these are the other monuments that make up the Arab-Norman itinerary:

• Admiral Bridge (in Italian, Ponte Ammiraglio) – in the city of Palermo
• Cefalù Cathedral or Duomo of Cefalù (in Italian, Cattedrale or Duomo di Cefalù) – in the town of Cefalù
• Church of Saint Catald (in Italian, Chiesa di San Cataldo) – in the city of Palermo
• Church of Saint John of the Hermits (in Italian, Chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti) – in the city of Palermo
• Church of the Martorana (in Italian, Chiesa della Martorana) – in the city of Palermo
• Palatine Chapel (in Italian, Cappella Palatina) – in the city of Palermo
• Monreale Cathedral or Duomo of Monreale (in Italian, Cattedrale or Duomo di Monreale) – in the town of Monreale
• Royal Palace (in Italian, Palazzo Reale) – in the city of Palermo

World Heritage

Did you know that the Palermo Cathedral (and Arab-Norman Palermo) were part of Italy’s twenty-sixth set of inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List? This 39th session of the World Heritage Committee took place in Bonn (Germany), between June 28th and July 8th, 2015.

Nowadays, Italy is the country in the world with the most UNESCO sites: it has sixty heritage assets (both cultural and natural) inscribed on the world list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization!

In the meantime, I’ve already had the opportunity to visit twelve of them:

• 18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park (1997)
• Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale (2015)
• Archaeological Area of Agrigento (1997)
• Archaeological Area of Pompei (1997)
• Cinque Terre (1997)
• Historic Center of Florence (1982)
• Historic Center of Naples (1995)
• Historic Center of Rome and the Properties of the Holy See (1980) – Castel Sant’Angelo, Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
• Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily) (2002) – Noto
• Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica (2005)
• The Porticoes of Bologna (2021)
• Venice and its Lagoon (1987)

How to Get to the Palermo Cathedral

The Palermo Cathedral is located on Via Vittorio Emanuele, the oldest street in Palermo and one of the most central streets in the city. From here, you’re very close to other monuments, such as the Royal Palace (400 meters), the Quattro Canti (500 meters), the Piazza Pretoria (550 meters), the Church of Saint Catald (650 meters), and the Church of Saint John of the Hermits (650 meters).

In my opinion, Palermo is an “open-air museum” and deserves to be explored on foot. However, if you prefer to travel by public transport, you can reach the Palermo Cathedral by bus (numbers 104, 108, 110, 118, N1, or N5; Calatafimi Porta Nuova or Piazza Peranni stops).

Opening Hours & Ticket Prices

The Palermo Cathedral is open every day, from 9:30 am to 6 pm (Monday to Saturday) and from 10 am to 6 pm (on Sundays), with the last entry being at 5:30 pm (or 4:30 pm, for the last two itineraries on the list mentioned below).

Although entry to the church is free, there are parts of the Monumental Area of the ​​Palermo Cathedral (Royal Tombs, Crypt, Apses, and Treasury) and beyond that are paid. The different types of combined tickets have a distinction between normal fare and reduced fare (from 11 to 17 years old):

• Royal Tombs – €2 (normal rate) or €1 (reduced rate)
• Treasury + Crypt + Apses – €6 (normal rate) or €4 (reduced rate)
• Bishops’ Rooms + Archbishop’s Palace + Diocesan Museum – €7 (normal rate) or €4 (reduced rate)
• Roofs + Royal Tombs – €7 (normal rate) or €4 (reduced rate)
• Royal Tombs + Treasury + Crypt + Apses – €7 (normal rate) or €4 (reduced rate)
• Roofs + Royal Tombs + Crypt + Apses + Treasury – €12 (normal rate) or €6 (reduced rate)
• Diocesan Museum + Monumental Area of ​​the Cathedral – €13 (normal rate) or €8 (reduced rate)
• Diocesan Museum + Monumental Area of ​​the Cathedral + Roofs – €15 (normal rate) or €8 (reduced rate)

What to See at the Palermo Cathedral

Roofs

The Roofs of the Palermo Cathedral are one of the places where you can best see the diversity of artistic styles of this religious temple: Arabic-Norman (lavic coverings), Gothic (stone engravings), neoclassical (domes), and neogothic (bell tower).

The Roofs of the Palermo Cathedral can be accessed before or after visiting the Monumental Area of ​​the Palermo Cathedral, as the entrance is hidden inside the Chapel of Blessed Peter Jeremiah (in Italian, Cappella del Beato Pietro Geremia) and the exit is completed in the Royal Tombs!

Royal Tombs

The Royal Tombs of the Palermo Cathedral are a set of six tombs located in two chapels of the south nave, to the right of the central altar. The first houses the tombs of Henry VI of the Holy Roman Empire, Constance of Aragon, and Constance of Altavilla, while the second houses the tombs of Roger II of Sicily, William II of Athens, and Frederick II of Sicily.

Henry VI and Constance of Altavilla were the parents of Frederick II, who married Constance of Aragon. The latter was the grandson of Roger II and father of William II. The mausoleums of Henry VI, Constance of Altavilla, Roger II, and Frederick II are made of red porphyry, a precious stone associated with royalty. The other two sarcophagi were carved from white marble.

Chapel of Relics

The Chapel of Relics of the Palermo Cathedral is twice the size of the other chapels in the south nave. Its large wrought iron gate was designed in 1908 by architect Francesco Paolo Palazzotto, who was also responsible for reorganizing the space.

The Chapel of Relics of the Palermo Cathedral houses the urns of relics of Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Christina (first patroness of Palermo), Saint Agatha (virgin and martyr), Saint Mamilian (bishop of Palermo), Saint Mamilian, Saint Nymph (martyr) and Saints Eustotius, Proculus, and Golbodeus (martyrs).

Sundial

The Sundial of the Palermo Cathedral was installed by the astronomer and mathematician Giuseppe Piazzi, who was also a priest and monk in the Catholic Church. The proposal was presented in early 1795 to the archbishop of Palermo Filippo Lopéz y Royo, who approved its construction and financing.

Completed in April 1801, the Sundial of the Palermo Cathedral is made up of a long marble slab, which begins in the Chapel of Saint Francis of Paola and crosses the central nave obliquely. Polychrome panels with the zodiac signs give it the additional function of a calendar.

Chapel of Saint Rosalia

The Chapel of Saint Rosalia of the Palermo Cathedral is the resting place of the city’s patron Saint. The silver reliquary urn that holds the mortal remains of Saint Rosalia dates back to 1631 and is protected by a brass gate where seven silver lamps sit.

The Chapel of Santa Rosalia is a mandatory stop for all tourists visiting the Palermo Cathedral, as well as a place of veneration for the Palermitan people. This noble virgin was made a saint of the Catholic Church for saving the city of Palermo from the plague in 1624.

Treasury

The Treasury of the Palermo Cathedral brings together jewelry, reliquaries, monstrances, chalices, furniture, and liturgical vestments, among other pieces. Of all, the most precious is the Crown of Constance of Aragon, which was found in her tomb and is made of gold, gilded and filigreed silver, enamels, pearls, and polychrome stones.

The Treasury of the Palermo Cathedral is exposed in the Canons’ Sacristy, Great Sacristy, and the apses of the side naves, and can be accessed through an entrance to the right of the Chapel of Saint Rosalia. Along the itinerary, you’ll also be able to visit the ancient Chapel of the Madeleine and the Crypt.

Crypt

The Crypt of the Palermo Cathedral is a necropolis with 23 tombs from different eras (Roman-Pagan, Roman-Paleo-Christian, Greek-Byzantine, Norman, etc.), almost all belonging to archbishops of Palermo. Historians don’t agree on its origin, but it was likely founded between the 4th and 6th centuries AD.

The Crypt of the Palermo Cathedral is today formed by seven apses and two longitudinal naves with cross vaults, supported by fourteen columns with Corinthian capitals. Among the materials used in the various elements of this cemetery, Egyptian granite, red terracotta, and Grigio Billiemi marble stand out.

Presbytery

The Presbytery of the Palermo Cathedral is divided into three spaces: the area for liturgical celebrations (with the Pulpit and Central Altar, designed by architect Vincenzo Gorgone in the middle of the transept under the large dome), the Choir (made of wood in Catalan Gothic style, from 1466) and the Central Apse.

The Central Apse displays an altar by architect Filippo Pinistri, decorated with precious stones and petrified wood. Consisting of Ionic columns surmounted by Corinthian capitals, the High Altar accommodates the figure of the resurrected Christ. The frescoes were executed by the painter Mariano Rossi between 1802-03.

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Where Do I Make My Reservations?

• Hotels and Accommodation: Booking.com
• Tours and Activities: GetYourGuide

What Photography Gear Do I Use?

• Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless
• Camera Lens: Fujinon XF 18-55 mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS
• Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action
• Small Tripod: Manfrotto PIXI Mini
• Smartphone Adaptor: Manfrotto PIXI Clamp
• Memory Card: SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC