ARAB-NORMAN STYLE

The Arab-Norman style is incomparable and exclusive of Palermo, Cefalù and Monreale and is characterized by the union of two opposite worlds: the Arab - Muslim and Norman – and the Catholic. The Arab rule (from 827 to the end of the eleventh century) made the city one of the richest and most important of the time: wonderful palaces, mosques, minarets, gardens and fountains were erected. On July 3^rd, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Bonn declared the Arab Norman itinerary a "World Heritage Site", then it was inserted into the World Heritage List. This itinerary is composed of 9 monuments: the Royal Palace with the Palatine Chapel, the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (known as the Church of the Martorana), the Church of San Cataldo, Palermo   Cathedral, Zisa Palace and the Admiral bridge. 

Royal Palace: it was built in the 10^thcentury by the Norman kings who chose it as house, but also as a residence of exceptional luxury and sophistication. 

Palatine Chapel: it is located on the first floor of the Norman Palace and it was built during Roger's reign, as a chapel of the Royal Palace. In 1132 it became a parish and it is dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul, in fact, the right hand aisle is decorated with scenes from the life of St. Paul and the left one with episodes from the life of St. Peter. In it we can see the aspiration of Norman kings to restore the Christian cultural world, combining it with the Muslim world, present in the magnificent decorations. 

Cathedral: It is considered the "history book of Palermo", because all the cultures that came one after the other over the centuries left their impressions. The cathedral dates back to 1184. 

Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti: it is one of the most famous medieval buildings in Palermo and one of the symbolic monuments of the city. It was built during the Norman period, between 1130 and 1148, during the rule of Roger II and it was restored in 1882 by Giuseppe Patricolo. 

Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (Martorana): The Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio was built in 1143. In the fifteenth century was granted to the convent of Benedictine nuns, founded in 1194 by Eloisa Martorana; since then the church was called "Martorana". 

Church of San Cataldo: It was built in 1154 during the reign of William I by order of Majone from Bari. It is the most distinctive example of the Arabic architectural culture of the Norman sovereigns with their typical surrounding red domes that characterize it.

 Zisa Palace: The palace, that was built in 1167 (more or less), was the favourite summer residence of  the kings and their court. Its name comes from the Arabic "beautiful”. 

Admiral Bridge: It was built during the XVIIth century by Giorgio D’Antiochia, king Ruggero’s admiral. The building consists of two flights of stairs that lay on four smaller flat arches. At this bridge, on May 27, 1860, at night  Garibaldi’s troops prevented Bourbon troops from invading the city.