the Baroque exterior

Despite the layering of styles, the external architectural features of the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio still boast many distinctive elements, typical of [approfondimenti id="50517" testo_link="Norman architecture"], of Islamic origin, such as the articulation of the façade with niches wit...
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the Baroque interior

Over the centuries, in order to adapt the church to the Latin rite, the internal structure underwent changes, the most evident of which were made to the [approfondimenti id="50460" testo_link="narthex"] and the space in front of the building, which were enclosed and covered, making the layout slight...
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The flooring: shapes, motifs and iconography

The Martorana flooring consists of eleven opus sectile panels, decorated with  [approfondimenti id="50442" testo_link="quincunxes"] and geometric motifs. Coeval with the building of the church, dating back to the 1140s, the entire floor is made of white, [approfondimenti id="50419" testo_link="porp...
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The mosaic cycle, an ascending path towards the light

The mosaics of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, attributable to Byzantine masters, cover most of the walls and vaults. Despite the fact that the original layout was affected by the alterations carried out between 1500 and 1700, the mosaic cycle of the Martorana is certainly one of the best preserved of ...
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The interior of the church

George of Antioch, who also commissioned the great bridge, known as the  [approfondimenti id="50417" testo_link="Admiral's Bridge"], originally built over the [approfondimenti id="48653" testo_link="Oreto river"] in Palermo, had the church built in honour of the Virgin, reflecting his multifaceted...
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The decorations on the bell tower

The bell tower of the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, designed to be in a symmetrical axis with the rest of the building, was undoubtedly already built in 1184 when the decoration was finished and the structure was completed with the construction of the [approfondimenti id="50460" testo_link=...
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The architectural envelope: the Greek cross layout oriented towards the light

Following construction, which began around 1140 and was completed in 1143, work resumed three years later and continued over the years, at least until 1184, when the church was provided with an atrium in the form of an uncovered and porticoed trapezium, welcoming the faithful, a [approfondimenti id=...
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Different styles and transformations of “one of the most beautiful monuments in the world”

Over five centuries, numerous renovations and modifications transformed the medieval building, which had typical Byzantine features and a very compact [approfondimenti id="50431" testo_link="Greek cross"] layout. Today, the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio denotes a mixture of different styles...
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The ancient convent of the Martorana, a history of devotion and tradition

The Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, from 1221, was entrusted to the Greek clergy, while from 1434, at the behest of Alfonso V of Aragon, it was granted to the [approfondimenti id="49751" testo_link="Benedictine"] nuns of the nearby monastery, founded in 1193 by Goffredo and Eloisa Martorana. ...
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The Admiral’s dedication

The Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio stands in what is now the brightly lit Piazza Bellini in Palermo's historic centre, occupying a privileged position on a hill next to the Church of [approfondimenti id="49341" testo_link="San Cataldo"] and opposite the Church of Santa Caterina. According to...
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