Monreale is located on a hill a few miles from Palermo and it is easy to reach by car. 

In the 12th century from this promontory the sovereigns dominated the extensive Genoardo Park, a place of hunting and recreation. Monreale was thus a privileged place because of its strategic position facing Palermo. For this reason, on the top of Monreale the medieval Cathedral and the cloister stand.

These buildings were sponsored by the last Norman king, William II, between 1176 and 1190 and today they are included in the Unesco list along with the other Palermo’s monuments of the Norman age.

So, the Cathedral of Monreale and the cloister are buildings that alone are worth the trip to Sicily. 

In just ten years skilled Byzantine craftsmen created a unique artwork on the cathedral’s walls: more than 25.000 square feet of mosaics depicting the Old and New Testaments.

Monreale’s mosaic decoration is among the most extensive in Italy, and the cathedral looks like a large stone Bible bathed in the glittering light of gold. 

But the story doesn’t end there. The tour of Monreale continues with the medieval cloister, flanking the cathedral. Here, Benedictine monks lived in the past with the task of praying for the surrounding community and transcribing books. The monks were amanuenses, precisely, and it is thanks to them that much of ancient culture was transmitted.

The cloister is an architectural jewel made of capitals carved with symbolic and biblical figures and columns inlaid with mosaics. 

If you are visiting Palermo, a tour of the Cathedral and cloister of Monreale is a must-see on your trip.