Cappella Palatina

Located within the Palazzo dei Normanni (Palace of the Normans), the Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) is the finest example of Arab-Norman art in Palermo. Built by Roger II from 1130 to 1140, the chapel is adorned with extraordinary Norman-Byzantine mosaics.  The palace was originally built for the Arab emirs and their harems in the 9th century, on a site earlier occupied by Roman and Punic fortresses.

Eventually abandoned by the Arabs, the palace was fully restored by the conquering Normans. The Norman king Roger II completed the Palatine Chapel in 1140.  The chapel combines harmoniously a variety of styles: the Norman architecture and door decor, the Arabic arches and script adorning the roof, the Byzantine dome and mosaics. For instance, clusters of four eight-pointed stars, typical for Muslim design, are arranged on the ceiling so as to form a Christian cross. The mosaics depict a variety of saints and biblical scenes, some interpreted in unique ways - Adam and Eve are shown with the forbidden fruit in their mouths, already reaching for a second piece.  The colors of the mosaics have an extraordinary depth and vividness (the effect sometimes achieved by gold-backed tesserae and silver mosaic tiles) and the subjects have a realistic style.  The mosaiced interior is capped by a splendid 10th-century Arab honeycomb stalactite wooden ceiling, painted with biblical stories as well as scenes of Arab and Norman court life - including animal hunts, dances and even a picnic in a harem.

For a better look I suggest you visit the official site of the Cappella Palatina at http://www.cappellapalatinapalermo.it.  There you can take a virtual tour of the chapel.  After you click on Virtual Tour on the home page, click on Tour Virtuale della Cappella Palatina.  On the next page choose English or Italiano. At the bottom of the page if you click on menu, you get a navigation menu for the virtual tour. This link should take you directly to the virtual tour.  For more of my photographs visit my photo album.