Our private tour in Monreale will be an unforgettable experience of beauty: gold mosaics, medieval atmosphere and amazing landscapes. The Cathedral of Monreale is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its amazing history and beauty.
We will unravel together the reasons why we find this Cathedral in such a particular place with such a mixture of different artistic styles.
After visiting the church and the cloister, we will discover the surrounding area, which has a very different atmosphere compared to Palermo: Monreale is not a big city, it’s just a small village!
It has a wonderful geographical position which offers us the perfect overview of the city of Palermo.
By car or taxi. Eventually by bus (from Piazza Indipendenza: bus Amat number 389 or bus Ast)
Combo
You can combine the visit of Monreale with our Walking tour of Palermo or with a winery in the surrounding area, making a full day.
How long
About 2 hours.
How to get there
By car or taxy. Eventually also by bus (from Piazza Indipendenza: bus Amat number 389 or bus Ast).
Combo
You can combine the visit of Monreale with our Walking tour of Palermo or with a winery in the surrounding area, making a full day.
More details
Monreale: the village
The view on the Conca d’oro
Monreale is a small village on the slopes of Monte Caputo, 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Palermo. It has a great view down the valley (the Conca d’Oro) and a medieval atmosphere with its small streets.
It is also the seat of an archbishop and its history is strictly connected to the construction of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral
The Cathedral of Monreale is one of the most important Norman buildings in the island. It is dedicated to the Madonna and called Santa Maria La Nuova.
It dates back to the twelfth century, when the Norman king William II, known as William the Good, founded a Benedictine monastery here; the Duomo was its abbey.
The upper part of the interior is completely covered in gleaming gold mosaics; more than 6,000 square meters.
The combination of Norman, Byzantine and Islamic art and architecture demonstrates the different cultural influences which created Sicily’s most glorious era. In the central apse, above the altar, the huge picture of Christ Pantokrator, in benediction.
The Cloister: an example of perfection
The Chiostro dei Benedettini is an elegant square with 228 twin columns supporting pointed arches. The capitals represent animals, monsters, birds, religious scenes and mythological stories.
On the south-west corner is an enclosure (called chiostrino) formed by three arches on each side with a fountain: this was the place used by the monks to wash their hands before entering the refectory.
The south-western corner of the cloister of Monreale
What will you experience
Beauty and arts
You will wonder at the majestic gold Byzantine mosaics mixed with the Islamic influence. You will discover the cycle of the Old Testament represented in the central nave, the scenes of the life of Christ in the aisles and in the sanctuary, the Apses dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, but also the islamic decorations and the tombs of King William I and King William II.
The central apse
History
The church visit will be also an opportunity to focus on the Norman period, going back to the 11th and 12th century, and to discover the extraordinary adventure of the Norman Kings who made Palermo the capital of a kingdom.
Monreale: the village
The view on the Conca d’oro
Monreale is a small village on the slopes of Monte Caputo, 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Palermo. It has a great view down the valley (the Conca d’Oro) and a medieval atmosphere with its small streets.
It is also the seat of an archbishop and its history is strictly connected to the construction of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral
The ceiling
The Cathedral of Monreale is one of the most important Norman buildings in the island. It is dedicated to the Madonna and called Santa Maria La Nuova. It dates back to the twelfth century, when the Norman king William II, known as William the Good, founded a Benedictine monastery here; the Duomo was its abbey.
The upper part of the interior is completely covered in gleaming gold mosaics; more than 6,000 square meters. The combination of Norman, Byzantine and Islamic art and architecture demonstrates the different cultural influences which created Sicily’s most glorious era. In the central apse, above the altar, the huge picture of Christ Pantokrator, in benediction.
The Cloister: an example of perfection
The Chiostro dei Benedettini is an elegant square with 228 twin columns supporting pointed arches. The capitals represent animals, monsters, birds, religious scenes and mythological stories.
On the south-west corner is an enclosure (called chiostrino) formed by three arches on each side with a fountain: this was the place used by the monks to wash their hands before entering the refectory.
The south-western corner
What will you experience
Beauty and arts
The central apse
You will wonder at the majestic gold Byzantine mosaics mixed with the Islamic influence. You will discover the cycle of the Old Testament represented in the central nave, the scenes of the life of Christ in the aisles and in the sanctuary, the Apses dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, but also the islamic decorations and the tombs of King William I and King William II.
History
The church visit will be also an opportunity to focus on the Norman period, going back to the 11th and 12th century, and to discover the extraordinary adventure of the Norman Kings who made Palermo the capital of a kingdom.
