Monreale is a little town that overlooks Palermo and the “Conca d’oro”. Due to its strategic position, it was elected by Arabs as ideal place to build their stronghold. Certainly, Monreale is famous for its world-renowned Arab-Norman Cathedral, declared as part of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 2015.

By visiting this extraordinary example of Arab-Norman architecture, you’ll be astonished by magnificent Byzantine golden mosaics covering the walls; almost all of them represent scenes from the Old and New Testaments. The imposing mosaic of Christ Pantocrator (“Ruler of All”), that stands out over the main altar, is twinned with the Dome of Cefalù and with the Palatin Chapel of Palermo.

Close to the cathedral, you can find the Benedictine cloister courtyard: it consists of 228 columns, each one decored with unique mosaic pattern. Finally, in the southwest corner you can admire a wonderful Arab fountain.