The Benedictine order was founded around 529, in the monastery of Montecassino, by St Benedict of Norcia. The Rule, which proposed a communal life according to the principle of Ora et Labora, or pray and work, was drafted by St Benedict in 534 and also supported by Pope Gregory the Great. In the Mid...

The Royal Palace, built at the same time as the other buildings, is located on the opposite side of the convent, south of the Duomo. Remodelled over the centuries, it became the seat of the archiepiscopal seminary in 1589 under Cardinal Ludovico II de Torres. In 1700, it was enlarged and the chapel ...

Giuseppe Velasco painted the scene of the Discovery of the Treasure of William II, a painting full of characters dated between 1797 and 1798. There is still a sketch of the work in the Pinacoteca Zelantea in Acireale and a 19th-century copy by Giuseppe Vaccaro in the Museo Civico in Caltagirone. The...

Gioacchino Martorana, son of the painter Pietro Martorana and pupil of Marco Benefial in Rome, is an exponent of 18th-century classicist and rococo painting. Born in Palermo in 1735 and very active in Rome with important commissions, he returned to Sicily and worked on several projects for the Monre...

According to legend, when the Virgin appeared to William in a dream, she said: "In the place where you are sleeping is hidden the greatest treasure in the world: dig it up and build a temple in my honour." Having spoken these words, she disappeared, but the king immediately ordered the carob tree wh...

The Byzantine Church of Santa Domenica Kuriacia was dedicated to Saint Kyriaki, or Santa Domenica di Tropea, and stood in the western countryside, near the village of Rocca. Later donated to the monastery of Santa Maria Nuova, it was probably the seat of the diocese of Palermo during the Arab domina...

The village of Bahalara or Bulchar, now known as Buarra, was located near Monreale and was one of the Arab strongholds. The settlement was mainly dedicated to trade, with Bahalara's merchants travelling to nearby Palermo to take part in the markets....

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...