Palermo Cathedral by Silva Wischeropp

Palermo, with its imposing sights and oriental flair, has managed to counteract its bad image. Once considered a mafia stronghold, Palermo has awakened and transformed itself into a lively cultural city. One of the most important sights in Palermo is the cathedral. Shaped by Byzantine-Arabic-Norman influences, the most diverse architectural styles meet after rebuilding. The Maria Santissima Assunta Cathedral in Palermo on the island of Sicily is overwhelming. On Corso Vittorio Emanuele in a northerly direction, the right-hand side of the street widens into a huge square shortly before the Palazzo Reale. Here, the grandiose building is located on the edge of the old quarter Il Capo on the site of an old basilica from the 6th century. The church was converted into a mosque in 831 during the Saracen conquest of Palermo. Around 1072, the Normans reconsecrated 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. Because of 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 between Arabic and Norman architecture. For passionate lovers of architecture and art, an extended visit to the cathedral is truly inspiring enrichment. I took this delightful, photographically architectural shot of the magnificent cathedral from a mixture of building cultures in the heart of Palermo's city in July 2019 with the Nikon D90. The subject is ideally suited for hanging in architectural offices, but can also be a fascinating eye-catcher in living spaces.