The Assunta Cathedral in Palermo

Author: Serena

This church was built during the XII century in Gothic- Catalan style. During the next centuries it was strongly renovated becoming an awesome example of artistic superimposition of different styles and also one of the most representative Palermo constructions. You can admire its XIV century main door and its Gothic- Catalan porch. However, this cathedral is still today characterized by the Arab style the makes it unique among all the architectural constructions of the Christian West.

The Assunta Cathedral

Its neoclassical internal part is richly decorated by wonderful XII and XIII century frescos and mosaics and by different sculptures by Gagini and Villareille. Here there also is the famous “Assumption” by Velasquez together with other paintings belonging to unknown artists.

The Cathedral's internal part

In its crypt there are 21 graves of the Palermo archbishops and the famous Tabularium: an historical archive made up by important Latin, Greek and Arab documents. In this crypt there also is the “Cathedral Treasure” made up by many artistic works, precious objects and needlework found in the funeral monuments of Norman kings and emperors: an example is the famous crown of the empress Costanza d’Aragona who was the Federico II wife. Here it is finally possible to admire the Enrico VI, Federico II and Costanza d’Aragona graves, some Koran passages engraved on a column, and the XVIII century silver urn containing the memorabilia of S. Rosalia, the Palermo Patron Saint.