Palazzo dei Normanni

Historical Building Sicily, Italy

The Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo, formerly the Royal Palace, is the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. It was transformed by the Normans into a sumptuous palace capable of expressing all the power of the monarchy. So sumptuous as to fill it largely with precious mosaics.

You can visit the complex which is a set of buildings in the shape of a tower. The living point of the building is undoubtedly the Palatine chapel, located in a basilica with three naves. These are bordered by columns in granite and cipollino marble. The dome, the transept and the apses are decorated with marvelous Byzantine mosaics, among the most important in Sicily, which represent Christ, the evangelists and various biblical scenes. Also picturesque is the Room of King Roger with mosaics representing centaurs, leopards, peacocks, deer and swans against a background of vegetation of trees and palms.