Monreale Cathedral

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova is one of the most important Norman buildings in the world and one of the greatest works of art in Sicily. Built between 1174 and 1189 under King William II, it represents the fusion of three traditions — Norman, Byzantine, and Arab — that made Norman Sicily so extraordinary.

The interior is almost entirely covered in gold mosaic: 6,340 square metres of it, created by Byzantine craftsmen and depicting the full cycle of biblical history from the Creation to the Last Judgment. The scale is overwhelming. The enormous Christ Pantocrator in the apse — arms spread wide, eyes looking down with an expression that is simultaneously stern and merciful — is perhaps the single most powerful image in Sicilian art.

The cathedral is open daily; expect queues in summer, particularly mid-morning. Arrive early or after 2pm. There is an admission charge for the cloisters (separate ticket) and for access to the roof terraces, from which the view over the Conca d'Oro is exceptional. Photography is permitted inside.

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The cathedral was commissioned by the Norman king William II in 1174, partly as a deliberate rival to the cathedral in nearby Palermo, which was controlled by the Archbishop he distrusted. William II donated such enormous lands and revenues to ensure the new cathedral would outshine its rival that it became the wealthiest church in Sicily. The mosaics were largely completed by 1189, just fifteen years after construction began — a breathtaking pace for work of such complexity.

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