Monreale
Travel Guide Europe Italy Sicily Monreale
Introduction
Monreale is a town and commune in the Palermo Province on Sicily. It is best known for its basilica or cathedral.
- the most extraordinary and extensive area of Christian mosaic-work in the world, the apex of Sicilian-Norman art - The Rough Guide to Sicily
It must be agreed that sounds like hype but, having seen it, you may agree that there is not a bit of hype about it. As pictures can tell so much more than words, the external website above portrays rather than describes.
Unusually, the building took only eight years to complete towards the end of the 12th century. Hence there was no clash of architectural styles and its magnificence is such that in no age have substantial improvements been deemed necessary. The speed of building and the magnificence are larely explained by the desire of King William II to excel anything about Palermo Cathedral, owing to his rivalry with the Archbishop who was supported by the Pope, the latter having political designs on Sicily.
Sights and Activities
Note that the cloisters are entered by a separate door from the front of the cathedral. Both are open from 0800 to 1800 at a cost of €4,5.
Events and Festivals
Getting There
By Bus
Buses run frequently from the large square by the Palazzo dei Normani in Palermo.
By car
Eat
Drink
Keep Connected
Internet
Phone
See also International Telephone Calls
Post
Post Italiane is the national postal services of Italy and has quite an efficient network of postal offices and reliable postal services. Standard letters and postcards (up to 20 grams) cost €0.39 to send within Europe and the Mediterranean countries outside Europe and €0.41 to all other destinations throughout the country. Up to 50 grams, prices start at €0.52 for Europe, €0.62 for other areas. Packages start at €1.55 within Europe, and around €2.50 for other countries. Post office business hours in Italy are from 8:30am to 2:00pm from Monday to Friday, with closing times at Saturday and the last day of the month at 12 noon.
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