Sicily: Palermo – Palermo Cathedral

Any exploration of Palermo should obviously start with its incredibly grand Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palermo). The cathedral dates back to 1185 and before that the site hosted a Roman temple, a Byzantine basilica, and later a mosque during Arab rule. The cathedral has been built and modified many times throughout its history and incorporates elements from Norman, Gothic, Catalan, and Neoclassical styles. A large changes were made in the 18th century when the entire cathedral was modified to look like a huge Latin Cross. The crypt is also home to tombs of several Roman Holy Emperors and Sicilian kings. Not to be missed is cloning the spiral staircase to get to the rooftop for some super panoramic view of the city and the surrounding hills and mountains – truly spectacular – as well as the cathedral’s architecture and bell-tower. The Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.