t Cappella Palatina, royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily
g West Palermo g Contents
The dazzling jewel of the Palazzo dei Normanni is the Cappella Palatina, a cocktail of Byzantine, Islamic and Norman influences built by Roger II (1132–40).
t Cappella Palatina, royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily
Experience West Palermo
t Palm trees providing shade in the public gardens outside Palazzo dei Normanni
Situated on the second of the Norman Palace’s three floors, the Palatine Chapel is said to be rivalled only by the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel in terms of its awe-inspiring decoration. Virtually every inch of the walls is covered with finely detailed Norman-Byzantine mosaics, most of which depict biblical scenes. On the cupola and the bowl of the central apse is the image of Christ Pantocrator surrounded by angels, while the niches house the Four Evangelists. Old Testament kings and prophets are on the arches, Christ blessing the faithful dominates the middle apse, and the transept walls bear scenes from the Gospel. The chapel’s architectural features are themselves fascinating, particularly the wooden ceiling – a masterpiece of Islamic-style carving featuring muqarnas, a form of three-dimensional geometric decoration more commonly found in mosques, and the marble pulpit and candelabrum. The overall harmony of the design, and the perfection of the details, make the Capella Palatina a truly unique monument.
The chapel once had 50 windows, so that the intricate biblical mosaics would always be illuminated.