Gezicht op de voorgevel van de kathedraal van Palermo, Sicilië 1857 - 1914

This photograph captures the Palermo Cathedral in Sicily, taken by Giorgio Sommer sometime between 1834 and 1914. Sommer, a German photographer based in Italy, documented the country during a period of significant transformation. This image of the Cathedral presents more than just architectural documentation; it reflects the complex layers of Sicilian history and identity. Originally a Christian basilica, the structure was transformed into a mosque in the 9th century under Arab rule, and then back into a cathedral by the Normans in the 12th century. Sommer’s photograph captures this palimpsest, a site of cultural and religious negotiation. The photograph invites us to consider how power and identity are inscribed in stone. Each architectural layer tells a story of conquest, adaptation, and cultural synthesis. It serves as a reminder that identity is never fixed but is constantly reshaped by historical forces.