Tag: monreale
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Monreale’s Bagpipe
In Sicilian mountain towns, playing and crafting zampogna, or bagpipes, was a part of life. There aren’t too many zampogna players left–just like there aren’t too many shepherds (the livelihood most closely tied to the mountains and zampogna) either. David Marker, an american of Italian heritage, has made it his mission to keep zampogna alive.…
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Show Me a Story
The magnificent Cathedral at Monreale possesses walls covered with colorful mosaics depicting stories from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. This image pictured demonstrates the story of Genesis 2:22, “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.”…
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Arts Streets
This weekend in Monreale, the city celebrates “Le vie dell’Arte,” a festival that features the fine art treasures from the city’s museum. Instead of the works being inside however, this Saturday and Sunday, those works have been brought outside on to the streets and into the piazzas for all to enjoy on Piazzetta Arancio, or…
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13th Century Laser Show
The spellbinding inlaid floor of the Cathedral at Monreale is a tremendous example of Arab and Norman architectural and decorative styles. Semi-precious stone and marble pieces create dizzying and spectacular mosaic designs. Imagine a world without video games and computer generated design… this is the 13th century version of a laser show!
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Souvenirs
Souvenirs, Monreale.
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Persia or Palermo?
The Cloister of the Cathedral at Monreale is one of my most favorite places in Sicily. 228 uniquely designed columns and a bubbling fountain line the center garden. The Norman-Arab architecture leads you to believe you could be in ancient Persia. It’s beautiful and peaceful and has a story all its own.
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When They Found Out
The splendid cloister of the Cathedral at Monreale built circa 1200 boasts 228 uniquely designed columns. This one depicting Adam and Eve is one of my favorites.
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Mosaic Designs at Monreale
Mosaic tiles design, Cathedral of Monreale.
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Monreale’s Mosaic Designs
Each of the 228 columns of the cloisters of the Cathedral of Monreale has a unique mosaic design. Built around 1200 and commissioned by Norman King William II, these architectural gems possess design elements from Sicily’s Arab, Jewish, Byzantine, and Greek and Roman past.