Hotels near Palermo Cathedral

Palermo Cathedral is the city's architectural scrapbook, begun in 1185 on the site of a mosque that was itself once a Christian basilica. Nine centuries of additions left it with Norman towers, Catalan-Gothic porticoes, Islamic-style crenellations, and an 18th-century dome, all somehow holding together in one honey-coloured pile.

Inside lie the royal tombs of Sicily's Norman kings and the Emperor Frederick II, along with a treasury and a meridian line traced across the floor. Climb to the rooftops for close-up views of the crenellations and out over the old town. The Cathedral is part of the UNESCO-listed Arab-Norman Palermo route.

Pro Tip: Entry to the main nave is free; the tombs, treasury, and rooftops need a combined ticket of about 12 EUR. The rooftop is the highlight - go late afternoon for softer light.