The Two Cathedrals

Visitors to Palermo will find two cathedrals to be of interest. Both are popular tourist destinations in Palermo and are largely regarded as some of the most significant in all of Sicily.

The Palermo Cathedral, the city's most significant house of religion, comes first. While Palermo Cathedral's scale is unquestionably notable, it's difficult to avoid noticing the structure's unique appearance. Since the Normans began building it in 1185, it has undergone numerous additions, blending a variety of architectural styles. However, the Norman, Moorish, Gothic, and Baroque external features work wonderfully together.

The inside is a little less monumental, but don’t miss the Sundial Meridian Line decorated with the zodiac. This ingenious addition from 1801 uses a narrow hole to cast light on the meridian, indicating the exact time of noon each day upon the current sign of the zodiac.

The Monreale Cathedral is the other cathedral tied to Palermo, even if it lies outside the city limits. This famous attraction sits in the small town of Monreale in the hills west of the city and actually predates Palermo Cathedral. There is a story behind Monreale Cathedral, it is said to have been deliberately built by King William II in Monreale to oppose the bishop of Palermo.