smell

A scent of incense fills the King’s Chapel

During the celebrations the smell of incense fills the entire church. From the Sanctuary, the pleasant fragrance, typical of the Mediterranean area, spreads to the aisles, mixing with the acrid smell of the candles that illuminate the sacred building....
Read more
hearing

A melody that praises God

A cappella Gregorian chants echo in the sanctuary. The harmonious voices of the choir evoke timeless atmospheres, while the psalmist, from the ambo, stands out for their performance. Each voice sings in unison and then joins in a pleasant melody praising God, in an intimate and profound dialogue. ...
Read more
touch

The king’s throne: luxury and power

The royal throne is located on the western wall, opposite the sanctuary. It is Romanesque in style, raised by five steps and decorated with opus sectile marble. Touching the cold marble, the porphyry stands out among all of them, a material that over the centuries became a symbol of strength and glo...
Read more
sight

A treasure chest of light: the Palatine Chapel

The Palatine Chapel is located on the first floor of the palace, as if it were a treasure chest. Upon entering, you can see the architecture of the church, which was consecrated to St Peter on 28 April 1140. The layout, in the shape of a Latin cross, is longitudinal with three aisles separated by fi...
Read more
hearing

Between two rivers

The Cassaro is situated in an elevated position, between the depressions of the Kemonia and Papireto rivers which, at that time, delimited the core of the ancient city. The sound of flowing water brought tranquillity to the people of the time, as they bustled around the ancient markets for spices an...
Read more
touch

The mosaic artist from Byzantium

Craftsmen, stonemasons, artists, marble workers: there were many craftsmen working on the extension of the Qasr and the construction of King Roger's personal chapel, the Palatine. In the space in front of the palace, a Byzantine mosaic artist chooses the tiles for the mosaic cycle. They examine them...
Read more
sight

The magnificence of the Cassaro

In the Norman era, walking on the Cassaro Alto meant admiring the magnificence of monarchical power. Today's Cassaro derives from Qasr, the palace that became the seat of the Emir during Islamic rule. Following his coronation, Roger II decided to transform and extend the building to make it his pala...
Read more
hearing

Silence alicudi b

The silence in Alicudi is absolutely dominant, even along the only lane that goes from the sea to the top of Monte dell’Arpa. If you want to immerse yourself in absolute silence, interrupted only by the singing of the summer cicadas, head for the top of the mountain....
Read more
taste

The mushrooms of Etna

There is no better place to hunt for some porcini mushrooms, which are an excellent typical product of Etna....
Read more
smell

The undergrowth

The undergrowth of the chestnut grove of the Red Mountains is truly rich in vegetation and has an intense aroma....
Read more