Cattedrale di Palermo

Palermo Cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and reflects the layered history of the city in its architecture. Originally a Christian basilica, it was converted to a mosque under Arab rule, then re-consecrated in 1185 by Norman King William II. Its exterior blends Arab-Norman, Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements -- a fusion recognised as part of the UNESCO Arab-Norman Palermo World Heritage Site. The building contains the royal tombs of Norman and Hohenstaufen rulers of Sicily.