Cefalù Cathedral
| Cathedral-Basilica of Cefalù Duomo di Cefalù |
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The façade of the Cathedral
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Cefalù, Italy |
| Geographic coordinates | 38°02′23″N 14°01′26″E / 38.03972°N 14.02389°ECoordinates: 38°02′23″N 14°01′26″E / 38.03972°N 14.02389°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Diocese of Cefalù |
| Year consecrated | 1267 |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Status | Active |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Norman-Arab-Byzantine |
| Groundbreaking | 1131 |
| Completed | 1240 |
| Official name: Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv |
| Designated | 2015 (39th session) |
| Reference no. | 1487 |
| State Party |
 Italy
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| Region | Europe and North America |
The Cathedral-Basilica of Cefalù (Italian: Duomo di Cefalù) is a Roman Catholic church in Cefalù, Sicily, Italy.
The cathedral was erected in 1131 in the Norman architectural style, as the island of Sicily was conquered by the Normans in 1091. According to tradition, the building was erected after a vow made to the Holy Saviour by the King of Sicily, Roger II, after he escaped from a storm to land on the city's beach. The fortress-like character of the building, which, seen from a distance, rises as a huge bulk above its medieval town. It also made a powerful statement of the Norman presence.
The Cathedral was built in an area of ancient and continuing population, as attested by the findings of a Roman road and a Palaeo-Christian mosaic. Construction began in 1131, the apse mosaics begun in 1145 and the sarcophagi that Roger II provided for his tomb and that of his wife were put in place the same year.
After 1172 the church suffered a period of decline and in 1215 Frederick II of Hohenstaufen moved the two sarcophagi to the Cathedral of Palermo. Construction of the cathedral was resumed soon after, the façade being completed in 1240. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1267 by Rodolphe de Chevriêres, Bishop of Albano.
In 1472 a portico, by Ambrogio da Como, was added between the two towers of the facade.
The cathedral is preceded by a large terraced parvise (called turniali), which was originally a cemetery. According to tradition, it was created with earth brought from Jerusalem, having the peculiarity of causing the rapid mummification of the corpses.
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