Monreale
Travel Guide > Europe > Italy > Sicily > Monreale
In this Article
- Introduction
- Sights and Activities
- Events and Festivals
- Getting There
- Getting Around
- Eat
- Drink
- Sleep
- Keep Connected
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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
This is version 6. Last edited at 13:35 on Sep 1, 09 by Utrecht (-12). 2 articles link to this page.
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