The palace in Altofonte Park, built by Roger II as a summer residence and hunting lodge, was architecturally very similar to the Favara Palace, where the sovereign resided in winter. The Altofonte palace is actually composed of a series of rooms, all arranged around a porticoed courtyard, embellishe...

The chapel attached to the palace in Altofonte Park was dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Currently, it remains partially in its original appearance after being restored in the 1930s by architect Valenti. The small dome stands at the centre of the chapel, supported by round arches and a cylindrica...

The Altofonte park was created at the behest of Roger II and was located south-west of Palermo, in woodland areas. Before long, the park was also equipped with a palace that was used as a royal residence during hunting trips. The palace was strategically located, almost dominating the Conca d'Oro an...

Genoard, from the Arabic for Paradise Garden, occupied the western part of the Palermo plain. Sollatium buildings inspired by the Persian model, such as the Cuba, the Zisa, the Cuba Soprana and the Scibene, were located within the park. A grand Islamic garden, it was a place of pleasures filled with...

The Norman kingdom became a melting pot of different worlds, languages and religions, not only Western Latin but also Eastern Byzantine and Islamic Arabic. The rulers succeeded in creating a dialogue between the people of the Mediterranean, based on peaceful coexistence, cooperation and the mixing o...

The domus was the typical dwelling of ancient Rome. Inhabited by the wealthier classes, usually Patricians, it was a private house with two entrances: the external entrance, or ostium, and the atrium, the main entrance located in the centre of a large courtyard. The courtyard, which had a skylight a...

Translated into English as "enclosed garden", it is the typical medieval form of garden in monastic cloisters. It is a green space surrounded by walls, therefore isolated from the outside, rich in plants, fruit trees and there is often a well, fountains and other water sources. Also mentioned in the...

Riyadh is a palatial garden located within the urban area. It has a quadripartite shape as it is enclosed within an architectural structure and is of Persian origin. Inside the riyadh, there are kiosks, small basins, water channels and avenues. Unlike the àgdal (a veritable garden of leisure and pl...

In the 20th canto of Paradise, set in the sixth heaven of Jupiter, the supreme poet Dante Alighieri recalls the prosperity of Sicily resulting from the good government of William II, placing him among the spirits of the righteous princes glorified in Paradise. In particular, Dante dedicates verses 6...

In Islamic and then Norman times, Palermo was surrounded by numerous parks and gardens, organised around palaces, monasteries and splendid residences. These extra-moenia palaces are described by Ibn Jubayr. The Arab traveller compares the buildings that encircle the city to a precious necklace....