This is one of the great Norman monuments of Sicily. It occupies a dramatic position overlooking a colourful piazza and backing onto the face of a huge rock formation.
Two towers, subtly different in design, rise on either side of the facade, the sand-coloured stone glowing in the sunlight. The cathedral, founded in 1131 by King Roger II, contains a blend of Norman, Arab and Byzantine influences.
The mosaics of the interior, which contain a variety of figures against a golden background, are the building’s crowning glory, the work of master-craftsmen from Byzantium. Dominating the mosaics is the impressive image of Christ Pantocrator (the Almighty), who looks down, his right hand raised in blessing.