Palermo’s Cappella Palatina boasts intricate mosaics like this detail that illustrates a mix of influences from Sicily’s cultural milieu of ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Jewish, Arab, and Norman. Founded in 1132 by King Roger II and housed inside the Palazzo dei Normanni, the eye-candy artwork of the entire chapel may have been the rock-and-roll laser show of its day.
Allison Scola is founder, owner, and curator of Experience Sicily and the Cannoli Crawl. Named one of the experts for the 2019 New York Times Travel Show, Scola writes and lectures on Sicily and leads immersive tours and designs custom itineraries that delight discerning travelers. She has been featured on Rudy Maxa’s World with the Carey’s, America’s #1 Travel Radio Show and as the cannoli expert in the documentary Cannoli, Traditions Around the Table. Scola has lectured about Sicily at University of Pennsylvania, The New School, LIU Post University, Queens College, Westchester Italian Cultural Center, at high schools in the New York City metropolitan area, and at events in New York City.
