PALERMOLost in Time

The Addaura Cave

cave-wall engravings dated to the late Epigravettian and the Mesolithic

human settlements dated to 14.000 years ago

Palermo is located in a beautiful position in the centre of a large bay. All along people travelling around the Mediterranean Sea were attracted by the fertile valley surrounded by mountains and slight hills

It was founded by the

Phoenicians 2700 years

ago. They called it Ziz

(flower) and

surrounded it by walls

Necropolis and burials

2268 years ago the Romans conquered the town calling it “Panormus” from the Greek “Panormos” (all harbour). It got the status of a free town.

Mosaics at the “Villa Romana”

At the fall of the Roman Empire in 535 the town went under Byzantine domination. To cope with theoverwhelming power of the Emperor of Byzantium in 827 Emir Aghlabid invaded Sicily defending the population. In 831, after the conquest by the Arab army, the town became the capital called Balarm and later Palermo.The conquerors were tolerant towards the surviving Christian population of Latin and Greek rite and towardsthe Jews. Thanks to the fertile countryside and the strategic position, the town became one of the largest and wealthiest of the time.

The continuous fights between local lords caused the end of the Arab rule. In 1061 the Normans invaded and conquered the whole area in 1091. As there was a great tolerance towards the local population, Muslim could live without problems for nearly two centuries during the reign of Frederick II (1197-1250). This tolerance is representative in architecture in which there is a remarkable synthesis between elements of Latin , Greek and Islam culture.

Norman Palace

Located on a slight hill, it symbolizes the center of the power since the Phoenicians. It is the home of the oldest Parliament and the most ancient royal residence in Europe. The two towers and the Palatine Chapel date from the Norman period.

Norman Palace

Sicily was under the heel of Islam for two centuries.Elements of civilization confluence in art.

In the Palatine Chapel the paintings on the parchment represent scenes from the Islamic Paradise.

Very antique mosaics made by Byzantine handicrafts.

A cultural and religious cohabitation - A union between Christianity (Saint’s life – Easter Church Candle - Christ “Pantocratore” ) and Islamic tradition.The palm tree (dates, leaves, trunk, honey, wine ) was account as the symbol of life – life sap drips from the trunk.

Palatine Chapel1140

Court Scenes Ceiling

Palatine Chapel

Palatine Chapel- Nativity

Palatine Chapel – Baptism of Christ

Norman Palace – Ruggero Room

Norman Palace – Ruggero Room mosaics ceiling

Commemorative stone written in Latin, Greek and Arabic remembering the water clock commissioned by Ruggero in 1142

San Cataldo Churh1154

San Cataldo Church

Martorana Church– 1143Mosaics

Martorana Church Mosaics

Martorana ChurchColumn with flowered inscriptions

Santo Spirito Church- 1172

San Giovanni degli Eremiti

San Giovanni degli Eremiti - courtyard

Maredolce Castle – 1071surrounded by an artificial lake

Probable adjustment of a palace of Emir Kalbita Gia’far

La Cuba - 1180

La Cuba – Remains of muqarnas

La Cubula - 1184

La Magione Church - 1191

La Magione - Courtyard

CathedralBuilt on a paleochristian cathedral, changed in a

mosque during the arab period and rebuilt in 1184. The inside was rebuilt between 1781 and

1801 in a neoclassical style.

Cathedral - Apsis

Cathedral - decorations

Cathedral – Column with a page of the Koran

La Zisa - 1175

La Zisa

La Zisa - Mosaics

Commemorative stone in Latin, Greek, Arabic and Hebrew