Are you curious to discover the most beautiful churches in Palermo that you must visit during a vacation in Palermo? Well, then you have come to the right place. Let’s start by saying that Palermo is a truly unique and extraordinary city made of art, culture, nature, history, and various beauties of all kinds that alternate and give life to a truly unique panorama.
The first church you must visit is the Cathedral: a charming destination particularly loved by many, both locals and (perhaps especially) tourists. The Cathedral is a majestic, imposing, and absolutely extraordinary building that leaves its visitors completely amazed. Due to its beauty and all the Arab-Norman architectural influences, the Cathedral of Palermo has even been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Then there is the Church of Jesus (also called Casa Professa), which is one of the greatest examples of Sicilian Baroque. The church is located right in the historic center of Palermo and will reveal one of the most splendid and wonderful sides of the city’s architecture. The interiors are vividly colored, and the marble columns are finely decorated, making it a church definitely not to be missed.
A bit more renowned than the previous one we talked about is instead the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, whose first foundation dates back to the thirteenth century, although the continuous interventions over time have created a unique blend of architectural styles. Here, multiple different styles coexist and alternate, ranging from Baroque to Renaissance, for an exciting spectacle.
Here are the top five churches in Palermo to visit
Have you ever heard of the Church of the Magione? This is also known as the Basilica of the Holy Trinity and is a true example of Arab-Norman architecture that you can admire in Palermo, although it is now incorporated with excellent elements in Baroque style.
In particular, on the outside, you can notice the apses made of perfectly assembled tuff blocks, surmounted by a dome, while inside, you can see a single-nave building with an apse overlooking the square. In the eastern part of the building, there is a dome, and on the wall opposite the altar, there are two windows where the sovereigns used to look out to attend mass.
The dome rests on an internal octagonal drum, formed by windows and niches alternating with each other, connected to the walls by muqarnas in the portion between the triumphal arch and the wall of the largest apse niche.
Finally, we cannot fail to mention the Palatine Chapel of the Royal Palace, which is an extraordinary example of Byzantine-Norman art, so much so that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can see intricate decorations with bright colors that offer the viewer a unique sight.
The church was damaged by an earthquake in September 2002 and was subsequently restored, completed a few years later, in July 2008. This restoration project was funded by a German patron for over three million euros, while the work was carried out by a group of cultural heritage restorers.
