Cappella Palatina, Palermo
Photo by Samuel Landete.
Photo © Paradoxplace.com.
Photo © Paradoxplace.com.
Photo by youngrobv.
Photo by reziemba.
Photo by reziemba.
Arab painted wooden ceiling. Public domain.
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 Byzantine mosaics. Together the Norman palace and its chapel are the greatest attractions of Palermo - come straight here if you have limited time in the city.
History
The palace was originally built for the Arab emirs and their harems in the 9th century, on a site formerly occupied by a Roman and Punic fortress.
Eventually abandoned by the Arabs, the palace was restored by the conquering Normans into a sumptuous residence. In 1140, the splendid Palatine Chapel was completed by the Norman king Roger II.
By the mid-16th century the palace was in serious decay again, until it was discovered anew by Spanish viceroys, who in 1555 began its rescue and once again turned it into a royal residence.
Today, the Palazzo dei Normanni it is the seat of Sicily's semi-autonomous regional government.
What to See
The interior is covered with glittering mosaics and capped by a splendid 10th-century Arab honeycomb stalactite wooden ceiling. Biblical stories blend happily with scenes of Arab life and Norman court pageantry.
The chapel is comprised of a nave and two aisles divided by oval arches. The central area is surmounted by a dome set on corner niches over a mosaic floor with walls of marble wainscoting.
At the entrance to the nave is a mammoth royal throne encrusted in mosaics and a 12th-century towering Paschal candelabrum carved with figures, wild animals, and acanthus leaves.
Covering the central nave is a honeycomb stalactite wooden muqarnas ceiling, a masterpiece creation of Arab artisans brought from North Africa. They depicted scenes from daily life, including animal hunts, dances and a picnic in a harem.
The mosaics depict a variety of saints and biblical scenes. Adam and Eve are shown with the "forbidden fruit" in their mouths and greedily reaching for a second luscious piece. Christ Pantocrator, surrounded by angels, looks down from the cupola.
The colors of the mosaics are vivid, the style realistic, the effect sometimes achieved by gold-backed tesserae and silver mosaic tiles, enhanced by inlaid marbleThis mixed inlay makes the surfaces gleam in the soft light. The effect is similar to that enjoyed at the magnificent Monreale Duomo.
The pillars of the nave are made of granite shipped from the East.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) |
| Type of site: | Royal chapel |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Museum |
| Date: | 1130-40 |
| Architecture: | Arab-Norman-Byzantine |
| Location: | In the Palazzo dei Normanni, Piazza del Parlamento, Palermo, Sicily |
| Phone: | 091-7054317 |
| Bus: | 104, 105, 108, 109, 110, 118, 304, or 309 |
| Hours: | Mon-Sat 8:30am-noon and 2-5pm; Sun 8am-noon |
| Cost: | €5 |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Palazzo dei Normanni, home to the Cappella Palatina. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Palermo Map or get our free Google Earth download.
