The original design of the Cefalù Cathedral was planned as a sort of Ecclesia Munita, that is, a fortress cathedral. In Sicily, other examples can be seen in Palermo, Monreale and in the original layout of the Catania Cathedral, commissioned by Roger I. These buildings were characterised by their grandeur, thick walls and grandiose forms, so much so that they were seen as an expression of the political centralisation of power and almost seemed to be defensive fortresses. In fact, they rose in strategic territories such as the Cefalù Cathedral, located at the eastern end of the town.
