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  4. La Cataldo

La Cataldo, Palermo

Photo © c4r1n3b. View all images in our La Cataldo Photo Gallery.
Photo © Cate Fuller.
Photo © Erik Ogan.
Photo © Erik Ogan.
Photo © Cate Fuller.

Known for its distinctive red domes, the small Chiesa di San Cataldo is a 12th-century Norman church standing next door to La Martorana in Palermo, Sicily.

History

The church of San Cataldo was founded by Maio of Bari, chancellor to William I, during the Norman occupation in 1154. After Maio died in 1160, the interior was never completed.

The church has belonged to the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre since 1937.

What to See

The exterior of this small church looks like a squat stone box with small arched openings. It is topped by its most striking feature: a row of three Saracen-style, bulbous, red "golfball" domes.

To see inside the church (which is worthwhile), ask for the key from a custodian sitting at a tiny table to your right as you enter La Martorana next door.

The austere stone interior, with bare walls and three petite stone cupolas over the nave, evokes a strong sense of the Middle Ages. Aside from the carved capitals, the only decoration is the fine mosaic tilework on the floor.


Quick Facts on La Cataldo

Site Information
Names:Chiesa di San Cataldo; La Cataldo; La Cataldo, Palermo
City:Palermo
State:Sicily
Country:Italy
cat:Churches
faith:Christianity; Catholic
feat:Arab Influences
style:Romanesque
Dates:1154
Visitor and Contact Information
Address:Piazza Bellini 3, Palermo, Italy
Coordinates:38.114800° N, 13.362500° E  (view on Google Maps)
Opening Hours:Tue-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun 9am-1pm
Cost:€1
Transport:Bus: 101 or 102
Phone:091/6375622
Lodging:View hotels near this location
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Map of La Cataldo

Below is a location map and aerial view of La Cataldo. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

References

  1. Chiesa della Martorana/San Cataldo - Frommer's Sicily
  2. San Cataldo - Fodor's Sicily
  3. The Rough Guide to Italy 7

More Information

Article Info

Title:La Cataldo, Palermo
Author:Holly Hayes
Last updated:07/09/2010
Permalink:www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/palermo-cataldo
Link code:<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/palermo-cataldo">La Cataldo, Palermo</a>