The cathedral of Monreale is one of the great attractions of Sicily and one of the finest examples of Norman-Arab-Byzantine architecture anywhere in the world. The 12th-century mosaics covering almost every surface of the interior are breathtaking: more than 6,000 square metres of shimmering gold depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, created by Byzantine craftsmen under Norman patronage. The cloisters, with their 228 paired columns — each pair different, carved with extraordinary detail — are equally beautiful.
Monreale is just 8km from Palermo and easily reached by city bus (take the 389 from Piazza Indipendenza). The town itself sits on a hillside with wide views over the Conca d'Oro, the golden valley of orange and lemon groves that surrounds Palermo. Spend a morning or afternoon here. When the weather is hot, get an ice cream across the street at Sette Nanni — the fig flavour is one of the best you will ever taste.
A short drive north of town, the Abbey of San Martino delle Scale is a Benedictine monastery dating to the 6th century, set in a lush upland valley. It is far less visited than the cathedral and rewarding for that reason.