Cathedral of San Bartolomeo

The cathedral basilica of San Bartolomeo, the largest and oldest church in Patti, stands next to the bishop's palace and seminary on the hill overlooking the city. Precisely on this site, around 1094, Count Roger of Altavilla founded the Benedictine monastery of the Most Holy Savior and had the first church built, dedicating it to St. Bartholomew the Apostle. The central portal in Gothic style consists of three columns on each side interspersed with slimmer columns that hold capitals with zoomorphic figures. Inside the cathedral there are valuable works of art and important funeral monuments, including the beautiful sarcophagus of Queen Adelasia, the wife of Count Roger and mother of Roger II, first king of Sicily, who wanted to retire to Patti where he died in 1118.