MONREALE CATHEDRAL Interior Mosaics

2:37

The moment you enter, you’ll be enchanted by the regal magnificence of the interior, thanks to the bright, glittering gold that covers all the walls.

The church is divided into three naves by two rows of splendid columns topped with beautiful capitals. The superb marble floor, with porphyry and granite inlays, was completed in the 16th century, while the colorful wooden ceiling was extensively restored after the fire in 1811.

The mosaics are the pride of the Cathedral, and practically cover the entire surface without interruption, totaling an area of 6340 square meters. Most of them are believed to have been created between 1180 and 1189, the year William II died, which was followed by a period of unrest.

The central apse is dominated by the magnificent image of Christ Almighty, from which all the golden light of the church appears to radiate. This majestic figure is shown blessing the faithful with his right hand, but as you can see in the Virgin on the Throne with Child below, the immensity of Christ takes on a human dimension thanks to the incarnation of the Baby Jesus being offered up, like a little emperor, for the adoration of the faithful.

The two side apses are dedicated to the Stories of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, symbolizing the Church and preaching and featuring episodes related to the lives of the two saints.

Depicted on the walls of the central nave are episodes from the Old Testament, which should be observed starting from the Creation of Heaven and Earth, at the top, to the right of the triumphal arch on which you can see the Annunciation. In the naves at the sides, you can see episodes from the New Testament, again starting from the right, near the apses.

The walls of the church are a sort of magnificent book illustrating the story of Man, from Creation to Salvation, going from Original Sin to Christ’s Sacrifice.

 

An interesting fact: on the pillar to the right of the altar, on the wall overlooking the royal throne, you can see the mosaic with Christ crowning William II, opposite which is William II offering Monreale Cathedral to the Virgin Mary, placed above the bishop’s throne. This is explicit propaganda highlighting that the monarch enjoyed God’s favor. The mosaic transmits the idea that the sovereign’s power came directly from God, and required no intermediaries.

 

TravelMate consiglia
Scegli l'opzione
che fa al caso tuo
Buy Palermo
Permanently unlock the app with all content of Palermo for
€ 7,99
Buy
Promotion
Unlock audio content of all available cities for 3 years at the promotional price
€ 19,99
Buy
Da non perdere
PALERMO INTRODUCTION
1 Audio

PALERMO INTRODUCTION

Palermo spent almost two and a half centuries under Arab rule, from 831 to 1071. The Saracens made it the capital of Sicily and turned it into a major city, leaving their mark on the local culture,...
THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE
1 Audio

THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE

A tasty typical lunch might begin with traditional local starters such as caponata, fried pieces of eggplant cooked in a sweet and sour tomato sauce with celery, capers, onion and crushed green...
PALAZZO DEI NORMANNI AND PALATINE CHAPEL
5 Audio

PALAZZO DEI NORMANNI AND PALATINE CHAPEL

The imposing Palazzo dei Normanni, which is currently the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, has a long, complex history. It sits at the highest point in the city, where the Carthaginians and...
TEATRO MASSIMO OPERA HOUSE
1 Audio

TEATRO MASSIMO OPERA HOUSE

The decision to build the opera house was taken by the city council, and it was named after the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele, a clear symbol of Palermo’s new identity as a city of unified...
CATHEDRAL
3 Audio

CATHEDRAL

The magnificent Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was built during the Norman period following a kind of power struggle between the king and the archbishop.The Norman king,...
LA MARTORANA CHURCH
2 Audio

LA MARTORANA CHURCH

La Martorana Church, also known as Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, was built on the orders of George of Antioch, Grand Admiral of King Roger II’s fleet of the Kingdom of Sicily, to give...
MONREALE CATHEDRAL
5 Audio

MONREALE CATHEDRAL

By 1183, most of the work had been completed, including the church, with its extraordinary cloister, and the royal palace, which has now all but disappeared; the elegant portico on the left side was...
QUATTRO CANTI
1 Audio

QUATTRO CANTI

Quattro Canti, whose official name is Piazza Villena, is the result of two important urban projects undertaken between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The Viceroy García de...
CHURCH OF THE GESÙ
2 Audio

CHURCH OF THE GESÙ

In 1549, the Jesuits were summoned to Palermo to preach and to take care of public education. The Norman abbey of Santa Maria la Grotta was thus given over to them to be turned into a Casa Professa,...
CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI DEGLI EREMITI
1 Audio

CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI DEGLI EREMITI

It was built on the spot of an ancient monastery that the Arabs destroyed and replaced with a mosque. When the Normans arrived, however, part of the mosque was demolished and around 1150, Roger II...
PALAZZO ABATELLIS AND REGIONAL GALLERY OF SICILY
3 Audio

PALAZZO ABATELLIS AND REGIONAL GALLERY OF SICILY

This austere, elegant edifice was built between 1490 and 1495 by Matteo Carnelivari for the rich, influential Francesco Abatellis, Port Master of the Kingdom of Sicily, on the main road of the...
CHURCH OF SAN CATALDO
1 Audio

CHURCH OF SAN CATALDO

The little Church of San Cataldo looks onto Piazza Bellini, which during the Norman period was the center of civic life in Palermo; at the time, it was known as Piano di San Cataldo or Piano della...
ZISA
1 Audio

ZISA

The splendid Villa Zisa was built starting from 1164 by craftsmen from Tunisia for the Norman king, William I, who was determined to surpass the splendor of the Favara Palace which had been built by...
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
2 Audio

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

The Antonio Salinas Regional Archeological Museum is located in the Olivella monumental complex, which comprises the Church of Sant'Ignazio and the nearby Oratory of Saint Phillip Neri. In 1866, the...
ORATORY OF THE ROSARY
1 Audio

ORATORY OF THE ROSARY

Oratories were places in which members – noblemen or rich merchants – would gather to recite the rosary, or a series of Hail Marys, sometimes followed by psalms. This custom grew following...
CAPUCHIN CATACOMBS
1 Audio

CAPUCHIN CATACOMBS

The underground cemetery of the Friars, improperly known as the Capuchin Catacombs, was built in 1599, following a curious event. A number of friars, who had entered the graves of the convent to...
TravelMate App
DOWNLOAD NOW
THE TRAVELMATE APP
Purchase your activation code, download the TravelMate App, and turn your smartphone into your personal travel companion!
Listen to audio guides about the wonders of the world with TravelMate.
HAVE FUN!