Portaal van de kathedraal van Palermo, Sicilië 1857 - 1914

This photograph of the portal of Palermo Cathedral in Sicily was taken by Giorgio Sommer, an Italian-German photographer working in the latter half of the 19th century. Sommer's image encapsulates the cathedral's complex history, built in 1185 on the site of a former Byzantine basilica, which itself was built atop a mosque. This superimposition of cultures and religions is clearly visible in the photograph. Elements of Arab and Norman architecture combine, reflecting Sicily's unique cultural heritage. Sommer’s choice to capture the Cathedral's portal emphasizes its role as a symbolic gateway between different worlds – a meeting point of faith, power, and cultural exchange. Historians use photographs like this as invaluable resources to trace the evolution of architectural styles, urban planning, and social dynamics, revealing how the past continues to shape the present.