Page 82 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

80  P ALERMO AREA BY AREA

r Monreale Cathedral

Dominating the Conca d’Oro, the Cathedral of
Monreale is the pinnacle of achievement of Arab-
Norman art. It was founded in 1172 by William II
and a Benedictine monastery was built next to it.
The cathedral is famous for its remarkable
interior with the magnificent gold mosaics
representing episodes from the Old Testament.
The cloister (see pp46–7) has pointed Arab arches
with geometric motifs, and scenes from the Bible . Christ Pantocrator
are sculpted on the capitals of the 228 white The church, with a Latin cross plan, is
dominated by the 12th–13th-century mosaic
marble twin columns. of Christ in the middle apse.

Exterior of the Apse
With its interlaced lava
and tufa arches and its
multicoloured motifs, the
exterior of the apse is the
apogee of Norman decoration.
KEY
1 The bronze door by Barisano
da Trani (1179), on the northern
side, is under the porch designed by
Gian Domenico and Fazio Gagini
(1547–69).
2 The royal tomb of William II,
sculpted in white marble, is next to
the tomb of William I in a corner of
the transept.
3 Roman columns separate the
sections of the nave.
4 Choir pavement
5 Entrance to the Cappella del
Crocifisso and the Treasury
6 Gilded wood ceiling . The Mosaic
7 Cappella di San Placido Cycle
The stupendous
8 A wing of the original 12th–13th-
monastery lies over the century mosaics
southern portico.
occupy the entire
9 Arab-inspired fountain nave and the
0 The 18th-century portico is aisles, the choir
flanked by two bell towers. and the transepts.
They illustrate scenes from
the New and Old Testaments.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p202 and pp210–11

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