This scene from the UNESCO site Villa Romana del Casale is commonly known as the “Bikini Girls,” but did you know the official name for this palestra within the Roman Villa is the “Chamber of the Ten Maidens?” Learn this factoid and others like it tonight during Experience Sicily’s Trivia Happy Hour with Carla Gambescia,…
Tag: mosaic tiles
Sicily Trivia On Tuesday Night
I love getting up close and into the details about Sicily. Perhaps you do too! Join us for some fun on Tuesday for Sicily Trivia! Experience Sicily Trivia Happy Hour with Carla Gambescia, author of La Dolce Vita University. When: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 19:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada) Where: Zoom Register in advance…
Awe-inspiring Mosaic Designs in Sicily
Every inch of the Cappella Palatina is embellished with intricate mosaics of inlaid marble, colorful stones, and golden glass tiles. This detail illustrates the multi-cultural mix (Norman, Arab, Greek, and Byzantine) that existed during Roger II’s 12th-century rule, when the Palazzo dei Normanni’s chapel was built.
Look Again! This Is In Campania
At first glance, this photo could have been taken in Palermo, but in fact, it is the floor of the Duomo di Casertavecchia in Campania! The Arab-Normann designs of the 12th century cathedral are most definitely related to those in Cefalù, Monreale, and Palermo, but they are located north of Naples, one of the capitals…
Savoring Sicily, Day 5: Eye Popping Opulence
Today’s highlight of Savoring Sicily has most definitely been the Villa Romana del Casale, pictured here. This is the Basilica room, so to speak. I wanted to show you this so you have an idea of the scope of this UNESCO site. It’s not a “villa,” as much as it’s a grand estate from the…
Our May Tour, Day 3: Be Mesmerized
Get personal with the amazing mosaics at the Cathedral of Monreale on Day 3 of our May Experience Sicily small-group tour. Built by the Norman King William II (“The Good”) in the late 12th century, this UNESCO site boasts thousands of beautiful and one of a kind tile designs, like the one pictured, that will…
Innocent and Majestic
This scene of Original Sin, that is, Adam and Eve with the snake from the Old Testament, is one of dozens of scenes that cover the walls of the Cathedral at Monreale. The Byzantine-style mosaic designs tell Biblical stories without words; however with incredible majesty–using glass, semiprecious stones, and hundreds of gold leaf tiles. Such…
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.”…
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!
Mosaic Designs at Monreale
Mosaic tiles design, Cathedral of Monreale.