PALATINE CHAPEL (CAPELLA PALATINA)

The Emir of Palermo constructed his Castle in the ninth century on top of Punic remains at the highest elevation in the heart of the old city. Under the Norman Palace's foundations are fragments of the Punic town and the Arab stronghold. Sicily was taken over by the Normans in 1072, not long after they had defeated the Saxons in England. They erected Palermo as the county capital of Sicily. The castle was then completely rebuilt. It was intended to serve as the Norman monarchs' royal residence. The palace evolved into a collection of structures linked by arcades. The complex was built as a home and administrative hub surrounded by gardens. King Roger II built the magnificent Palatine Chapel, the Palace's crown gem, in 1132. It was blessed in the year 1140. He desired a personal chapel. The chapel is a three-story basilica. It is a beautiful example of Sicily's Arab-Norman-Byzantine architectural styles from the 12th century, and it is dedicated to Saint Paul. Byzantine mosaics depicting "Christ Pantocrator," the Evangelists, and biblical events are all over the dome, transept, and apse. Features of the Complex Within the Palace are two courtyards with three levels of Renaissance loggias and stairs: the Maqueda Courtyard and the Courtyard of the Fountain. Only the Pisan Tower and the Treasure Tower survive the original four towers. The Palatine Chapel and Norman Palace are both listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. When the Sicilian parliament is not in session, the Royal Apartments are accessible to the public. The Salone d'Ercole, so named for its enormous 19th-century murals representing the twelve laborers of Hercules, is where lawmakers convene every Tuesday through Thursday. The Cappella Palatina, which mixes Latin, Byzantine, and Islamic features, is the spectacular centerpiece, though.