Family rivalry

The less culturally sensitive may say that this is what you get when building from the leftovers of various other church construction kits.
UNESCO on the other hand regard it as one of the finest examples of Norman / Arab / Byzantine / salted with classical elements architecture.
King Roger II had a bit of a reputation, having built the cathedral in Cefalu and the Cappella Palatina in Palermo. His grandson, King William II, wanted to outdo the old man. So he became inspired by a vision of the Virgin and ordered this cathedral in Monreale to be assembled.

The interior was completed in 1184 and covered in cartoon mozaics of 42 Old Testament stories.

Roger version in Palermo.Les mer