The craftsmen, probably from Byzantium, created a domus, in which the shining gold of the tiles becomes an allegory of the glorious reign of Roger. The representations, in an immobile and unnatural style, narrate timeless scenes from the Old and New Testaments in a burst of gold and bright colours. ...
Can you hear the voices of the people who, during the reign of Roger II, went to the Palatine Chapel to attend mass? These are a few members of the king's inner circle. Listen: the ladies coquettishly discuss their luxurious gowns, embellished with gems and cameos, finely embroidered in the Royal Pa...
Touching the tiles that make up the floor with your hands, you can follow the perimeters of the shapes and patterns that oriental and Mediterranean craftsmen made for the Palatine Chapel. On the floor, in fact, complex lattice patterns coexist, intertwining to form starry polygons, typical elements ...
The flooring of the Palatine Chapel is made of opus sectile, composed of tiny marble tiles which, when looked at closely, feature different colours and various shapes and shades. The large porphyry tondos, for example, are derived from circular sections of ancient columns.
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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....
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. ...
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 glo...
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 fi...
The Cassaro is situated in an elevated position, between the depressions of the Kemonia and Papireto rivers which, at that time, delimited the core of the ancient city. The sound of flowing water brought tranquillity to the people of the time, as they bustled around the ancient markets for spices an...
Craftsmen, stonemasons, artists, marble workers: there were many craftsmen working on the extension of the Qasr and the construction of King Roger's personal chapel, the Palatine. In the space in front of the palace, a Byzantine mosaic artist chooses the tiles for the mosaic cycle. They examine them...
MiC – Ministero della Cultura
Legge 77/2006 - Misure Speciali di Tutela e Fruizione dei Siti Italiani di Interesse Culturale, Paesaggistico e Ambientale, inseriti nella “Lista Del Patrimonio Mondiale”, posti sotto la Tutela dell’ UNESCO Regione Siciliana.
Assessorato dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana, Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana.
Parco archeologico della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento.
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