Palermo Cathedral and surrounds

We head onwards from the market to take a look at some of the main architectural treats that the city has to offer.
Below is the Palazzo dei Normanni or the Royal Palace of Palermo. This was the seat of the Kings of Sicily during the Norman domination and served afterwards as the main seat of power for the subsequent rulers of Sicily.
Today it is the seat of the regional parliament of Sicily.

P1060451

The palace stands in what is the highest point of the ancient centre of the city, just above the first Punic settlements, whose remains can still be found in the basement.

P1060453

The Porta Nuova, or new New Gate, close to the Norman Palace, was for centuries the most important entrance to Palermo by land.

P1060452 P1060455 P1060458

The original New Gate, first commissioned in 1583 by the viceroy Marcantonio Colonna to commemorate the victory of Charles V over the Turkish army, was destroyed in 1667.

In 1669 the architect Gaspare Guerciore rebuilt it entirely and decided to put on top of the building a pyramid roof covered with  majolica tiles with the image of an eagle with spread wings. The decoration is dominated by four telamons (male sculptures), depicting the Moors defeated by Charles V.

P1060456

Next on our walking tour of the architectural big hitters of the city we come to the epic Cathedral. The original church was erected in 1185 and had lots of additions throughout the centuries.

P1060463

Before we head for a closer look, the man has to have his obligatory caffeine fix and also trys his first Sicilian Arancini – a traditional stuffed rice ball filled with a mix of meat or cheese and rice, coated in breadcrumbs and fried.

P1060471 P1060472 P1060470

The Cathedral is a mishmash of additions, reflecting its chequered history. At one point it become a mosque in the 9th century following the Saracen’s conquest of the city.

P1060479

The Cathedral’s architecture is a mix of Norman, Moorish, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical.

The upper parts of the Cathedral’s towers were built between the 14th and the 15th centuries, while in the early Renaissance period the southern porch was added.

The present neoclassical appearance dates from work carried out between 1781 to 1801 which was supervised by Ferdinando Fuga

P1060460 P1060465 P1060476

The Cathedral is connected with two lintelled ogival arcades, arching over the street, that connect the façade to the bell tower in the front, that is also annexed to the Archbishops Palace on the left.

P1060464

Below, behind the man, you can see a famous portico created by Domenico and Antonello Gagini.

P1060475

Inside the Cathedral is quite austere compared to a lot of the other churches in the city. There are no epic ceiling frescos to be gawked at sadly!

P1060483 P1060484 P1060486

But what the cathedral may lack in decorative flourishes, it makes up for with the fact that you can climb up a narrow spiral staircase to the roof!

P1060491 P1060492 P1060495

Here’s the narrow little walkway that you get to inch along in order to get some wonderful views out across the city.

P1060494

The grey misty sky is beginning to clear by this point so we can get some great views out and across to the hills in the distance.

P1060498

Luckily we both have a head for heights so we’re enjoying our elevated position above the rest of the crowds.

P1060500 P1060504 P1060503

At one point we had the entire roof to ourselves (except for a few pigeons)

P1060499

It is a very peaceful, bird’s eye view of a very bustling, often frustrating city.

P1060505

Below we can look down on the Baroque small side cupolas designed by Ferdinando Fuga.

P1060511 P1060512 P1060508

Next up we’re heading for a very macabre tourist site. Watch this space and prepare to be thrilled and chilled by a most disturbing spectacle . .

Published by Derbyshire Gal

World traveller, proud auntie, bit of a liability.

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: