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"Cathedral of Palermo" (1184)
officially known as 'Santa Maria Assunta', is located at the...
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The great dome
and a smaller side aisle cupola is visible lower down.
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Good view of the famous portico
The upper sections of the two turreted corner towers were built...
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The wide portico
of the current entrance, which opens to the square, was added around...
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Monuments inside the portico
The two 18th century monuments on the walls of the entrance represent King...
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The other monument.
I'm not sure which is which.
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Famous 13th century Madonna
The portico has a niche over a door with a precious mosaic Madonna...
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Arcade connection
The two arcades which cross over the street connect the church to the...
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The Latin cross plan interior
has a nave & two aisles divided by pilasters (abbreviated columns).
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Side aisles
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Side aisle, covered with
small cupolas, leading to a side altar. I think this is the Chapel of Santa...
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Lovely painted ceilings
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There are several tombs
in the church along the side aisles. The tombs were moved here in the 18th...
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One of the side altars
There may be a tomb under the altar?
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Which saint is this??
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"Monreale" - Cathedral (1182)
The town of Monreale (royal mountain) straddles a slope on Mount...
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Another side shot
with a fountain. The sides of the cathedral are over 100m long. Although...
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The ceiling is wood,
carved & painted in great detail in a Moorish style. The current...
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The awesome mosaics
The walls, which are extensively decorated with mosaics on a gilded...
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The dominant mosaic in the main apse
over the main altar is Christ Pantocrator ("Ruler of All"). This link...
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Attractive baldacchino (canopy)
covering a tomb or altar in one of the side chapels.
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Another side chapel
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Tomb of King William II
builder of the cathedral. He died in 1189 when he was only 36.
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Confessional
(not very private?)
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Striking complex across the street
Sadly, the adjacent cloister (not this complex), which according to...
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Closeup of detail
Because there's a cross on the roof, I suspect this complex is related to...
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Hillside view from the front
of the cathedral.
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Another angle
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Looking down the street
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Another pretty church in town,
unidentified.
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And another one
They remind me of Spanish mission churches in Texas & Mexico?
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Lacy umbrellas for sale
I wonder if they came from Borano?
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Colorful ceramics
Note the yellow 3-legged pieces. That is the symbol of Sicily that is...
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More pots & pottery
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View looking down
a narrow street.
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View coming down the mountain
& Monreale.
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"Mount Pellegrino - St Rosalia Shrine"
(1624). The bones of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo, are...
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Santa Rosalia
Every July, the people of Palermo celebrate the Festino (Feast) of Santa...
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This is the statue of Santa Rosalia
that is carried in the annual procession on her feast day.
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Many miracles were attributed to Rosalia
Born into a noble family, like St Francis, she sought a hermit's life on...
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The main altar in the cave
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Details on the ceiling
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More detail & paintings
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Lovely carving
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Saint in a niche
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The usual tourist wares
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Looks real, doesn't he?
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Marionettes
Puppet theater, which became popular in Sicily during the 15th...
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Pear cactus
are everywhere in Sicily.
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Panoramic view of Palermo & the sea
Crown-shaped Mount Pellegrino, which is 1970 feet high with sheer rock walls,...
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