The first survey of the royal tombs dates back to 1781, during the restoration of the Cathedral
, when they were moved from their original location in the Presbytery to the new chapel at the beginning of the right-hand nave.
The opening of the sarcophagus of Emperor Frederick II was carried out by Francesco Daniele, with the help of Canon Rosario Gregorio. Unfortunately, during this intervention the sarcophagus suffered some damage, especially when the lid was moved back into place, but it was found that there were two more bodies inside, besides the emperor. A subsequent survey
was carried out between 1994 and 1998 in a non-invasive manner, using innovative equipment, to conduct examinations, scientific X-rays and DNA sampling. In addition to the body of Frederick, the study confirmed the presence of two other corpses inside the tomb.One of these corpses has been identified as Pietro d’Aragona, while the other belonged to an unidentified woman. The sarcophagus of Constance, on the other hand, was opened for the first time in 1491 by Viceroy Ferdinand de Acuña. Numerous jewels were found, including the sumptuous crown
, made in the Palermo tiraz
, five rings and a silver plaque
.
The transformations of the hall through the centuries
The construction of Monreale Cathedral: between myth and history
Under the crosses of the Bema
A chapel by an unknown designer based on repeated symmetries
The area of the Sanctuary
Artistic elements in Peter’s ship
A compositional design that combines nordic examples with new artistic languages, over the centuries
A tree full of life
From the main gate to the aisles: an invitation to a journey of faith
The towers facing the facade used as bell towers
A mixture of styles pervades the floor decorations
Thirteenth-century iconography decorates the nave’s wooden ceiling, designed with new solutions
Characteristics of religious architecture in the romanesque period
The beginning of the construction site
From the Mosque to the Cathedral
Cefalù: settlement evidence through time
The cultural substrate through time
Roger II of hauteville: a sovereign protected by God
The Gualtiero Cathedral
Gardens and architecture as a backdrop to the city of Palermo
Layers of different cultures decorate the external apses
Tempus fugit: a strategic project implemented in a short period of time
A remarkable ceiling
The paradisiacal “Conca d’oro” that embraces Palermo: a name with countless faces through time
A controversial interpretation
The rediscovered chapel
Worship services
The towers and the western facade
The architectural modifications ti the cathedral building after the death of Roger II and the transformations of the cloister
Squaring the circle
The chapel of St. Benedict
The balance between architecture and light
The links between the hauteville family and the monastic orders in Sicily
Beyond the harmony of proportions
The mosaics of the presbytery
The chorus: beating heart of the cathedral
The dialogue between the architectures of the monumental complex
The Bible carved in stone
The Kings’ Cathedrals
Transformations over the centuries
Two initially similar towers, varied over time
The cemetery of kings
A cloister of accentuated stylistic variety
A Northern population
Interior decorations
The plasticism of the main portico and Bonanno Pisano’s Monumental Bronze Door
Survey of the royal tombs
The mosaics of the apses
The columns of the nave: the meticulous study of the overall order
A new Cathedral
Mosaic decoration
The longest aisle
The southern portico
The marble portal: an intimate dialogue between complex ornamental aspects and formal structure
Roger II’s strategic design
The medieval city amidst monasticism and feudal aristocracy
The chystro: a place between earth and sky
A polysemy of high-level artistic forms and content
The Virgin Hodegetria
A palimpsest of history
The Chapel of the Kings
The king’s mark
Norman religious architecture with islamic influences in Sicily
The decorated facade
Porphyry sarcophagi: royalty and power
The chapel of san Castrense: an important renaissance work
The side Portico: a combination of elegance and lightness of form
The Great Restoration
The Cathedral over the centuries
The lost chapel
The liturgical spaces of the protesis and the diaconicon
The side aisles
The stone bible
The senses tell Context 1
The Cefalù cathedral: a construction yard undergoing a change between a surge of faith and control over the territory
The Great Presbytery: a unique space for the cathedral
Ecclesia munita
The Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene
The chapel of the crucifix: an artistic casket based on a previous model
Biblical themes enlivened by the dazzling light of the stained – glass windows overlooking the naves
The original design
Palermo: the happiest city
A space between the visible and the invisible
MiC – Ministero della Cultura
Legge 77/2006 - Misure Speciali di Tutela e Fruizione dei Siti Italiani di Interesse Culturale, Paesaggistico e Ambientale, inseriti nella “Lista Del Patrimonio Mondiale”, posti sotto la Tutela dell’ UNESCO Regione Siciliana.
Assessorato dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana, Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana.
Parco archeologico della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento.