Magical cathedral of Palermo by Silva Wischeropp

Palermo, with its imposing sights and oriental flair, has managed to counter its bad image. Formerly a mafia stronghold, Palermo has awoken and transformed itself into a lively cultural city.
One of the most important sights in Palermo is the cathedral. Characterised by Byzantine-Arabic-Norman influences, the cathedral combines a wide variety of architectural styles following renovations. The Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta in Palermo on the island of Sicily is stunning. Heading north along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the right-hand side of the street widens out into a huge square just before Palazzo Reale. Here, the grandiose building is located on the edge of the old Il Capo neighbourhood on the site of an old basilica from the 6th century. The church was converted into a mosque in 831 during the conquest of Palermo by the Saracens. Around 1072, the Normans re-consecrated the building as a Christian church and elevated Palermo to an archbishopric. In 1185, the cathedral was consecrated in the Byzantine-Arabic-Norman architectural style. Due to its construction, the cathedral is also known as the Norman Cathedral. The exterior façades of the cathedral, decorated with beautiful inlays of lava stone, reveal a harmonious fusion of Arabic and Norman architecture. For passionate lovers of architecture and art, an extended visit to the cathedral is a truly inspiring enrichment. I took this charming, photographically architectural shot of the magnificent cathedral, a mixture of building cultures in the heart of Palermo, in July 2019 with the Nikon D90. The motif is ideal for hanging in architectural offices, but can also be a fascinating eye-catcher in living rooms.