Chiesa di San Cataldo - Palermo

The church was built in 1154 during the reign of William I by order of Majone of Bari, grand admiral of the Norman king, as a chapel of a sumptuous palace, which no longer exists .

It is the most characteristic example of Arab architectural culture in the service of the Norman rulers with its typical red domes above and the parallelepiped shape that characterizes it.

William I donated the chapel and palace to the Benedictines of Monreale in 1182, who remained there until the entire building was converted into a post office in 1787. The various interventions that the building underwent over the centuries drastically changed the appearance of the church. The church later regained its original form through the restoration led by Giuseppe Patricolo in 1882.

The outer walls are enlivened by the graphic design of the blind arcades and the beautiful crowning.

The interior, with a central plan, has three naves divided by columns with reused capitals supporting the pointed arches. The floor with marble inlay and porphyry and serpentine slabs, although integrated by restorations, still largely retains its precious original form .

Since July 3, 2015, it has been part of the World Heritage Site (UNESCO) as part of the "Arab-Norman Route of Palermo, Cefalù and Monreale".

Willem Vandenameele