In Norman times, especially during the reign of Roger II, Palermo was becoming more and more enriched with magnificent buildings every day. The Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, built ex novo at the behest of Admiral George of Antioch, stands in the luminous Piazza Bellini in the historic centr...
The ceiling of the Palatine Chapel is characterised by muqarnas, an ornamental decoration typical of Islamic architecture and most commonly found in the vaults of buildings. The interplay of joints and volumes creates an evocative composition, which one would like to be able to caress in order to ap...
The specialised workers excelled in woodworking, as each element of various shapes and sizes is cut, assembled and worked according to a precise order and technique, demonstrating an extensive knowledge of the physical and mechanical characteristics of the materials used. In fact, the interlocking o...
The ceiling, made of painted wood, consists of two rows of central coffers, with concave lobes, flanked by small square or star-shaped coffers; the system is made of alveoli and muqarnas, typical of Islamic architecture. In particular, the central aisle is decorated with muqarnas, which form the geo...
The smell of wax spreads through the sacred area of the apse. The candles occupy a place in the central apse, near and on the altar, and are a symbol of the Light of God. In the Palatine Chapel, the precious Easter candle, which represents Jesus Light of the World, is also lit during Easter time. ...
Become part of the scene depicted in the mosaic for a moment: you can touch the tiles that make up the royal throne, the symbol of the king's magnificence and the place reserved for sovereigns. Touching the fruit of the skilful work of the mosaic artists from the East can give you an idea of the con...
The craftsmen, probably from Byzantium, created a domus, in which the shining gold of the tiles becomes an allegory of the glorious reign of Roger. The representations, in an immobile and unnatural style, narrate timeless scenes from the Old and New Testaments in a burst of gold and bright colours. ...
Can you hear the voices of the people who, during the reign of Roger II, went to the Palatine Chapel to attend mass? These are a few members of the king's inner circle. Listen: the ladies coquettishly discuss their luxurious gowns, embellished with gems and cameos, finely embroidered in the Royal Pa...
Touching the tiles that make up the floor with your hands, you can follow the perimeters of the shapes and patterns that oriental and Mediterranean craftsmen made for the Palatine Chapel. On the floor, in fact, complex lattice patterns coexist, intertwining to form starry polygons, typical elements ...
The flooring of the Palatine Chapel is made of opus sectile, composed of tiny marble tiles which, when looked at closely, feature different colours and various shapes and shades. The large porphyry tondos, for example, are derived from circular sections of ancient columns.
...
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.
sight 
touch 
smell 
hearing 
