Westwerk, i.e. west work,  is also known as the western body. It spread between the end of the 9th century and the 10th century in Carolingian churches. Formed by a central structure flanked by two towers, it took on a fortified appearance on the outside, while on the inside it was a space of consi...

In 395, Emperor Theodosius divided the empire into two parts: a Western part with Rome as its capital and an Eastern part with Constantinople as its capital. Over time, the division also affected the economy, language, art and religion. In particular, the Patriarch of Constantinople wanted to expres...

The decorations of the Palatine Chapel divide the building into two parts: the Byzantine-style mosaics, especially those in the chancel, celebrate God through the triumphant Christ, depicted as the Pantocrator in the dome, central apse and St Paul's apsidiole; the stylistic features of the flooring ...

Westwerk, i.e. west work,  is also known as the western body. It spread between the end of the 9th century and the 10th century in Carolingian churches. Formed by a central structure flanked by two towers, it took on a fortified appearance on the outside, while on the inside it was a space of consi...

The ambo is one of the focal points of the Eucharistic celebration, since it is in this sacred place that the word of God is proclaimed, the Gospel and the Epistles are read and the people are preached to. This is why it is placed on the south side of the nave, where the sun reaches its maximum brig...

The Paschal candle, used in Easter night services as a symbol of the light of Christ rising and overcoming darkness, is usually placed at the end of the candelabrum, known as the patera. The candelabra of the Palatine Chapel, a masterpiece of the Sicilian Romanesque style, is currently located at th...

In the Tabularium, inside the Royal Palace complex, precious documents such as original diplomas in parchment concerning the history of the Palatine Chapel, Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio and other churches and monuments are kept. The Tabularium collection, in Greek, Latin and Arabic, contains 151 parc...

Among the precious objects kept in the Palatine Chapel Treasury are valuable ivory artefacts: fifteen caskets and a crosier with precious stones. The caskets contained documents and relics and feature both engraved and carved decorations. However, there are also Islamic-style ebony objects from the ...

Inside the crypt of the Royal Palace, in the Chapel Treasury, there are precious objects that recall the history of the church, such as furniture, furnishings, monstrances, liturgical vestments, codices, icons, reliquaries and relics, all dating back to Norman and Swabian times. Reading the 1309 inv...

The baptismal font, found in churches and baptisteries, is the basin containing the water for baptism, the moment in which one is reborn to new life, according to Christian religion. The Palatine Chapel’s baptismal font is located in the left aisle, in the space of the narthex. The latter is a tra...