Illustrating the Persian-Middle Eastern influences on Arab-Norman architecture, the mosaic designs of the Sala di Re Ruggero (King Roger’s Salon) inside Palermo’s Royal Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) are splendid. Unlike their siblings in the Cappella Palatina (just downstairs in the palace), these mosaic designs are secular in nature, depicting hunting and natural scenes featuring trees, birds, deer, and lions, among other such subjects. Their exact construction dates are thought to be around 1170, during the end of the reign of William I, son of King Roger II.
The Sala di Re Ruggero is another monument that is part of the patrimony of the Arab-Norman gems of Palermo UNESCO World Heritage Site.
