sight
The Palatine Chapel is located on the first floor of the palace, as if it were a treasure chest. Upon entering, you can see the architecture of the church, which was consecrated to St Peter on 28 April 1140. The layout, in the shape of a Latin cross, is longitudinal with three aisles separated by five pointed arches on each side, on pedestals supported by columns and capitals in a composite style. The colours of the sixteen granite and cipollino marble columns are striking.
But the real focus of the building is the presbytery, raised above the aisles, ending with the three apses, characterised by the presence, at the corners, of recessed porphyry columns typical of Islamic art. If you look up, you can see the Byzantine-style dome.
An explosion of colours floods the entire interior, where the light makes the gold and silver tiles glow
touch
The royal throne is located on the western wall, opposite the sanctuary. It is Romanesque in style, raised by five steps and decorated with opus sectile marble. Touching the cold marble, the porphyry stands out among all of them, a material that over the centuries became a symbol of strength and glory and that, in the throne, takes on a value of exaltation of power.
hearing
A cappella Gregorian chants echo in the sanctuary. The harmonious voices of the choir evoke timeless atmospheres, while the psalmist, from the ambo, stands out for their performance. Each voice sings in unison and then joins in a pleasant melody praising God, in an intimate and profound dialogue.
smell
During the celebrations the smell of incense fills the entire church. From the Sanctuary, the pleasant fragrance, typical of the Mediterranean area, spreads to the aisles, mixing with the acrid smell of the candles that illuminate the sacred building.
