Day 2- Monreale and Palermo

Welcome to Monreale, which names derives from the latin Mons regalis, the mountain of the kings! Here you will discover a very beautiful town, not so far from Palermo, with its well-known Cathedral! The city of Monreale is famous all over the world and in 2015 even UNESCO recognized its artistic and architectural importance: its famous Cathedral is one of the places of historical and cultural interest of the “Arab-Norman Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale" serial site.

The Cathedral of Monreale is one of the greatest existent examples of Norman architecture, it was begun in 1174 by the king William II of Sicily. In 1182 the church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, by a bull of Pope Lucius III, was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan cathedral. Since 2015 it is part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale UNESCO Heritage site. The church is a national monument of Italy and one of the most important attractions of Sicily. Its size is 102 meters long and 40 meters and is covered by wonderful mosaics! You will be enhanced by the beauty of its mosaics, by Christ who watches and blesses you from above and by the cloister decorated with beautiful columns! Hera are a virtual tour of the beauties of the Monreale Cathedral and a virtual tour of the Benedictine cloister

After your visit at the cathedral, I suggest this restaurant for a good lunch, and then let's start your tour again!

Let's stop to admire the fountain of the city, and its surroundings before return to Palermo!

Your trip isn't only on the feet of the Arab Norman beauty traces in this area of Sicily. In Palermo you can also visit one of the most important Botanical Gardel of Europe. So let's start this interesting visit that will immerse you in nature!

The church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio is named after George of Antioch, Admiral of the Fleet of Roger II (Second) of Sicily. This church is another great example of the Arab Norman architecture in the city and it is incredible, here, to see how the Norman mosaics could have blended so well with the frescoes of the Baroque phase! Here you will see incredible mosaics, such as the very famous one with King Roger II crowned directly by Christ, just on the right corner after the entrance!

Next to La Martorana is the San Cataldo Church, an example of the wonderful Arabian-Norman architecture. San Cataldo is one of the sites in Palermo inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but here you will adire a nude architecture, without mosaics, which is incredible suggestive in its nudity! Founded around 1160 by admiral Majone di Bari, in the 18th century the church was used as a post office. In the 19th century it was restored and brought back to a form more similar to the original Mediaeval edifice. It has a rectangular plan with blind arches, partially occupied by windows. The ceiling has three characteristics red, bulge domes and Arab-style merlons. The church provides a typical example of the Arab-Norman pavements, which you admired inside other monuments, such as the Palatine Chapel.

Now let's take a shower, enjoy a little bit of relax and then we can go to dinner!

Pane ca meusa is one of the of the typical dishes of the city! This restaurant is one of the oldest typical restaurant of Palermo; here you will taste this and other very famous typical dishes!

Enjoy some drinks, and listen to good music before to go to your apartment at the end of the day!

"Quattro Canti" is the last destination of our second day in Palermo. So now, have a good night before hiting the road again tomorrow!