the historical context
the Zisa

The senses tell the historical context

smell
A burst of scents: the parks of Palermo

Palermo in Islamic and subsequently Norman times was surrounded by numerous parks and gardens, organised around palaces, monasteries and splendid residences, both in winter and summer. Trees, flowers and plants with the intense and delicate fragrances of citrons, lemons, oranges, jasmine, cedars, figs and vines were introduced into these lush green expanses, partly thanks to the use of new irrigation systems of Arab origin.

sight
The Genoard: a daydream

The Genoard, was one of the most important and extensive parks, a wonder to behold. Inside, there were residences, palaces and pavilions: the Cuba, the Zisa, the Cuba Soprana, the Cubula, the Menani and the Scibene. Ancient sources say that there were also exotic animals, fountains, pools, springs and numerous trees and flowers inside the park. A daydream!

hearing
The Genoard park: sounds, scents and colours

The Genoard park was a place of pleasures, full of sounds, scents and colours, like Persian Riyads, thanks to the presence of citrus groves and orchards irrigated by perennial waters. The pleasant sound of fountains, springs and pools of water surrounded by palm trees and numerous species of animals was a harmonious melody that lulled the ruler’s slow walks.

taste
Sicilian citrus fruits

Cedars, oranges, jasmine, figs and vines are the many intensely flavoured products that characterise these lush green expanses where fruit trees and intensely scented flowers grow.

The architectural appearance and transformations over time

The senses tell the architecture

A building constructed in a short space of time

The rediscovered palace

The architectural space

The interior of the church

the Baroque exterior

The flooring: shapes, motifs and iconography

The senses tell the interior

Gold and light: the splendour of the mosaics in the Royal Chapel

The senses tell the historical context

The senses tell the architecture and decorations

The senses tell the flooring

Different styles and transformations of “one of the most beautiful monuments in the world”

Shapes and colours of the wooden ceiling

Restorations

The senses tell the historical context

From oblivion to the recovery of memory

The mosaics of the naves

The Cassaro

The mosaic cycle, an ascending path towards the light

The birth of the Norman kingdom

The mosaics of the transept and the apses

The senses tell the Zisa over the centuries

The senses tell the external architecture and the original layout

The senses tell restorations

the Baroque interior

The loca solatiorum: dwellings for recreation, well-being and hunting

The senses tell the mosaic cycle

Decorations

The return of water

The Norman conquest of Sicily and the birth of a new Latin kingdom

The ancient convent of the Martorana, a history of devotion and tradition

The decorations on the bell tower

The opus sectile floor of the Palatine Chapel

The Royal Throne

The senses tell the historical context

The senses tell baroque decoration

Saint Peter’s Chapel in the Royal Palace

the roof of Paradise: one of the most representative works of medieval art

The beautiful Zisa and its garden: solacium regi among sounds, colours and scents

Intertwining of knowledge in Norman Palermo

The Palace of Kings

The senses tell the ceiling

The Admiral’s dedication

From earthquake to collapse

The architectural envelope: the Greek cross layout oriented towards the light

An architectural crescendo

The Genoard Park, the garden of pleasures and wonders