Tour in Arab-Norman Palermo

The Arab-Norman origins of Palermo

Visit the Sicily and not knowing the origins of its capital is a big mistake because Palermo it is a city rich in history with ideologies from very important historical periods.

The buildings that are present in Palermo are from the Arab-Norman period. This represents a perfect union of coexistence of various cultural groups despite their different historical and geographical origins.

In this union are also enclosed an architectural style of great value in which Latin components are contemplated, Islamic and Byzantine who created unique artistic combinations.

These ideological unions had an important impact in the Middle Ages by helping to form a Mediterranean koinè: a right combination for a development of modern Mediterranean-European civilization.

A tour of Palermo through Cefalù and Monreale

Taking a tourist tour in Palermo also means not leaving out the cities of Cefalu e Monreale which are represented by two very important churches such as the Cefalù Cathedral it is to Monreale Cathedral.

Cefalù Cathedral

The Cefalù Cathedral was founded by kings Roger II in 1131. The building was never built according to the planned project because it was the subject of various discussions. It is located at the top of a staircase 1851: preceded by a churchyard which served as a cemetery.

The Cathedral has two towers with mullioned windows, mullioned windows and pyramidal spiers added in the 15th century: one square and the other octagonal. The upper part is decorated with blind arches and intertwined arches interrupted by a central window.

The walls of the presbytery, l’central apse it is to time they are covered with Byzantine mosaics. The figures are positioned in hierarchical order: the Christ Pantocrator blessing it is located in the basin of the central apse, the Virgin and the four angels in the band below and in the lower part i Twelve Apostles. On the walls of the bema there are the figures of Saints and Prophets while in the cross vault the Angels and the Seraphim.

Attached to the Cathedral is the cloister of the XII century. with square plan: it is surrounded by a portico that has pointed arches that rest on the capitals which in turn are paired columns.

Monreale Cathedral

The Monreale Cathedral is formed by the church, from the Benedictine convent and the royal palace.

It was built by re Guglielmo II in 1166.

The Cathedral has a facade with two towers and a central portico built in 1770. In the center there is an access door, with four ferrules decorated with abstract relief motifs.

Here is also the Bronze door of Bonanno Pisano of the 1186: It's composed by 48 tiles with some biblical scenes. On the other side there is the bronze door made by Barisano from Trani in 1179.

The two mosaics with William II crowned by Christ e William II which offers the model of the church to the Virgin.

Here are also the sarcophagi of William I and that of William II.

The cloister still remains a Benedictine convent whose courtyards resemble the homes of Islamic lords. E’ there is also a loggia with a fountain whose water flows from a stylized palm-shaped column.