Church of San Cataldo is located in Piazza Bellini, in the heart of the historic center of Palermo.
The construction dates back to the period of Norman rule of William I. The church was built as a private chapel in 1154 at the behest of Admiral Majone of Bari.
After his death, the admiral’s property became the property of the Kingdom and in 1182 the church was donated to the Benedictine monks of Monreale, who used it as a hospice for the sick.
Externally, it has a simple façade made of sandstone and characterized by the parallelepiped shape.
In the upper part there is an Arabic battlement, above which the three characteristic red domes stand out, which are located in correspondence with the central nave.
Internally the church is devoid of decorations, with exposed bricks.
The only decorative element is the mosaic floor made up of marble, serpentine and red porphyry elements.
However, despite the passing of the centuries, the Church of San Cataldo has kept its architectural and decorative appearance intact.
Its three red domes make it one of the most iconic places in Palermo.
Since 2015 the Church of San Cataldo has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site within the “Arab-Norman Palermo” Itinerary.
