Monreale: The Mosaics of the Cathedral

Perched above Palermo and overlooking the Conca d’Oro, Monreale was once the hunting reserve of the Norman kings. Its cathedral complex is a masterpiece of Norman art in Sicily, constructed starting in 1174. The site features a stunning cloister, a Benedictine abbey, and the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), which was transformed into an archiepiscopal seminary in the late 16th century.
The cathedral features Italy’s largest mosaic decoration, covering an impressive 6,340 square meters with a gold background that depicts biblical scenes and the Christ Pantocrator in the apse. It also houses the tomb of William II and the relic of St. Louis’s heart.