Cathedral of Taormina

Churches, Culture
Piazza Duomo Taormina
0942 23123 / 339 5682372

    Built in the thirteenth century on the ruins of an existing church, the Cathedral of Taormina is dedicated to St. Nicholas of Bari.

    During the fifteenth and sixteenth century it went through numerous rearrangements. The latest renovation, completed in 1948, was made by the architect Armando Dillon, who brought to light the structures of the arches of the apse, at first hidden by stucco from the Baroque period.

    The “Fortress Cathedral”, so named for the architectural and of exterior fortification elements typical of medieval buildings, has a simple structure. The portal has two grooved Corinthian columns and on the doorframes are carved eleven figures on each side representing, among others, St. Paul (the keys), St. Peter (the sword of faith) and the four evangelists (the Lion, the Eagle, the Bull and the Angel).

    The interior, a Latin cross plan, has three naves and three apses. The side aisles host six secondary altars and the central aisle is supported by pink Taormina marble columns decorated with capitals with leaf and fish scale motif and shows the beamed ceiling with wood carved shelves. The church also houses great value artworks.