Cattedrale di Palermo
Cattedrale di Palermo
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksChurches & Cathedrals
About
This cathedral was started in 1185 by the norman archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio. You can visit the Royal and Imperial tomb of Frederik the II, the urn with the relics of the patron Saint of Palermo Santa Rosalia, plus a treasury with a precious medieval crown and a crypt from the VII century. The church is free to enter, there is a ticket to access the monumental area composed by royal tombs, treasury, crypt and the roof.
Duration: < 1 hour
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  • SaleDamc
    Sale, United Kingdom460 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth the money
    An impressive building, standing in pleasant gardens, the cathedral itself if free to enter and surprising subdued inside, in terms of decoration. For 15 euros, you can buy a ticket which allows entry to the roof, crypt, Bishops museum and another museum, which is over the road from the cathedral. The views from the roof are fantastic but anyone with mobility issues may struggle to get up and down. The larger of the 2 crypts is well worth a visit and overall, a definite 'must do' in Palermo.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 29 October 2023
  • Dmitrii Marinkevich
    Manosque, France268 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Few min walk from the port. Worth visiting
    We visited Palermo for 1 day by cruiser and had great chance to see the cattedrale di Palermo. Walk around and take few photos. Sit inside and pray. Some areas are not accessible, but it was not an issue.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 November 2023
  • Angelo Z
    Crawford, Texas333 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive Cathedral.
    The cathedral is an impressive and impossing blend of Arab, Norman,Gothic and Baroque. The inside shares some of the same influences, there is much to see. There are different chapels, crypts and what’s called the treasury. You can also go on the roof but it’s very narrow. The park outside is a great place to people watch.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 1 January 2024
  • LostInTime
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania23,050 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Giant old church
    I thought this church was quite beautiful. It’s very large and the interior is very impressive. I like old churches and this one did not disappoint. There is also a display inside for a priest that was killed by the mafia for giving people hope.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled on business
    Written 4 April 2024
  • Ana V
    Eugene, Oregon655 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Be sure to climb to the top!
    The outside of the cathedral is very beautiful. Be sure to get a ticket to climb up to the roof. There are two levels you can explore on the way up. Be sure to do the lower one first since you cannot go back. The stairway in the tower is quite medieval. This is quite the experience and the views are great.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 April 2024
  • Seeking True Quality
    Europe4,803 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The final resting place of four Norman rulers
    When our group arrived, this cathedral was closed, so our guide could tell its history only in the courtyard, highlighting its unique architecture! The church was built in 1185. Certain elements of the corner towers were added in the XV. and XVI. century and during the late XVIII. century it got its neoclassical appearance. During our previous visit, we were inside the cathedral and were somewhat disappointed with its interior - but we saw the four main sarcophagi of the Norman rulers of Sicily.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 April 2024
  • Dmitrii Marinkevich
    Manosque, France268 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Few min walk from the port. Worth visiting
    We visited Palermo for 1 day by cruiser and had great chance to see the cattedrale di Palermo. Walk around and take few photos. Sit inside and pray. Some areas are not accessible, but it was not an issue.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 May 2024
  • pfefmeister
    San Francisco, California4,373 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Palermo Gem
    We walked to the Cathedral from the cruise ship, which was an adventure in itself. This architectural gem is magnificent from the outside, and even better on the inside. However, they allow too many tourists at the same time, so it’s crowded. I opted to climb up to the roof for 7 euros, which was just ok. Nice views, but just a narrow walkway that you spend maybe 10 minutes on. The four crypts at the bottom are just so-so. Still, worth the walk through historic Palermo.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 June 2024
  • Glaswegian Heart
    Glasgow, United Kingdom51 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good historical cathedral with good roof views
    The cathedral is beautiful on approach and inside. We paid a very reasonable price (€12) to see the tombs, sacristy and the roof. The roof was a short steep climb but good views once you got up there. Good for getting your bearings of the city.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 July 2024
  • Prowander
    San Francisco, California452 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful cathedral
    Beautiful Cathedral that is free to visit. We skipped the paid portion including the museum. The building and grounds are fantastic. Had lunch nearby at a charming restaurant called Ristorante La Galleria.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 July 2024
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4.5
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Israel R
Ra'anana, Israel16,761 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
The location of the large and impressive building of the Palermo Cathedral is the place where a basilica was built in early Christianity and with the Muslim conquest of Sicily on the ruins of the Basilica a Muslim mosque was built, many Muslim motifs have survived to date and can be seen in several places in the Cathedral. The cathedral is rich in exceptionally large and remarkably interesting variety of works of art from different historical periods.
Roof climbing provides the climbers a wonderful rooftop views of Palermo. Sunset hours are highly recommended. “NOT 2 B MISSED”
Written 28 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,892 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Palermo Cathedral is an immense structure situated in the Centro Storico area of the city, I was amazed by the sheer scale of the building when I first saw it. The cathedral was created in 1185 by Walter Ophamil who was the Anglo-Norman archbishop of Palermo at the time. There is a mixture of architectural styles with additions and extensions that were added after the original building was completed. I visited shortly after the Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed, it was very quiet when I was there in July 2020 but most of the attractions within the cathedral were accessible. I spent a while inside the cathedral which was truly stunning and wished I had the time to stay longer. It is a place that must be explored whilst in Palermo.
Written 19 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Donald K
Edmonton, Canada1,174 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
The main portions in the church were very busy but the bishop's quarters in the attached building was full of artworks and pieces of interest and had very few visitors. The walkway seemed a bit touristy in that the line and wait for your turn to climb the stairwell took longer than the actual viewing on top.
Might as well pay for the complete package since it is hard to guess what you will like the most. Although another option is to view what is free, which is also a fair bit.
Written 21 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

OLenany
Brooklyn, NY1,179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Family
The history of Sicily is so complicated. It’s been under different rulers and religion.
This Cathedral is absolutely amazing, beautiful. It’s definitely worth it to take a ticket that includes all the attractions, including the roof, where you can see a panoramic view of the city. Just keep in mind that the stairs to the roof are very narrow ,
The adjacent building is the one where the bishops live. Totally worth visiting
Written 23 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ryszard L
Sydney, Australia328 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
This is a stunning mixture of styles. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it was started in 1184 AD ( the architect, William Ophamil is entombed in the crypt) and is a mixture of Norman, early Gothic, a touch of Baroque, Catalan and Islamic. To top it off, the dome is 18th century! The Treasury is well worth a visit and the tombs of Sicily's kings are here. Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen is here along with his wife, Constance of Aragon, whose Imperial Diadem is on display in the Treasury. The chapel of Santa Rosalia has a rich ornamental bronze gate and contains many relics. The lapis lazuli in the Sacrament chapel is quite stunning as is the silver altarpiece. The cathedral also boasts a meridian, an early type of heliometer which is well worth seeing.
Written 30 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

chrissy
Adelaide, Australia229 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Roman Catholic Church in Palermo, Sicily. It comprises of different styles due to the ‘add ons’ during its history. UNESCO historical site. Beautiful inside. We paid 7 Euros each to got onto the roof and see the burial tombs. The climb to the roof was easy, not that many steps but in the obviously small, spiral staircase. There is no entrance onto the roof in the rain. They allow a certain amount of people into the roof each time , let them down and the next go up. It was worthwhile. Entrance into the Cathedral itself was free.
Written 25 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Josh Formentera
Copenhagen, Denmark567 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
A great example of Arab-Norman Palermo architecture style. The church is very beautiful both inside and outside an amazing religious architecture. A very classic art of work that I admired very much specially the Islamic style geometric composition of 12 roundels that show fruit, humans all kind of animals. The Cosmati geometric mosaics floor was also beautiful to see inside the church and beautifully preserved artwork. On the top roof of the church not to be miss to see, there is an impressive view of the city of Palermo and it is great for photography.
Written 20 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nikolay V
Sofia, Bulgaria76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
One of the most significant place in Palermo! There is a nice garden in front of the cathedral. The entrance is free but if you want to have a tour inside the cathedral and see Palermo from above you can buy a ticket. Amazing place you must visit!
Written 30 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ANGELO V
Milan, Italy4,742 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
There are several sections in the Cathedral of Palermo, and you need a ticket to visit each of them. Tickets are sold separately, but cumulative tickets are also available.
Sections are: Royal Tombs, Treasury, Crypt, Basements, Apses and Roofs: I visited everything apart from the roofs (hundreds of stairs to climb).

On approaching the Cathedral you see a wonderful building in a warm sandstone colour, originally built in 1185. The church interiors were redone during the 18th century, and they're quite disappointing.

The Royal Tombs are those of Norman rulers of Sicily, among them the tomb of Frederick II of Swabia.

The Treasury has several religious art pieces.

The Crypt hosts several burials of noblemen and clergy, and it also has the royal crown of Constance of Aragon, an exquisite jewel in gold and precious stones.
Written 1 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Happy Days
Durban, South Africa45 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
The Palermo cathedral is lovely, both on the outside and interior. The honey-coloured stonework gives the whole building a warm and pleasant feel to it. There is much to see on the inside, and once you have had a good look, I would recommend sitting in the piazza, with a gelato from a little place just across the road from the cathedral.
Written 26 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Cattedrale di Palermo

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