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Palermo
UNESCO
world heritage sites
Bridge of the Ammiraglio
at
Corso dei Mille, 399-409
It was built over the Oreto River during the era of the Norman Sicily by the ammiratus ammiratorum George of Antioch.
Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio
at
Piazza Bellini, 3
The original church was built in the form of a compact cross-in-square ("Greek cross plan"), a common south Italian and Sicilian variation on the standard middle Byzantine church type. The three apses in the east adjoin directly on the naos, instead of being separated by an additional bay, as was usual in contemporary Byzantine architecture in the Balkans and Asia Minor.
Church of San Cataldo
at
Piazza Bellini, 1
Erected in 1154 as a notable example of the Arab-Norman architecture which flourished in Sicily under Norman rule on the island, the church is annexed to that of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio.
Cathedral
on
Via Vittorio Emanuele
It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. As an architectural complex, it is characterized by the presence of different styles, due to a long history of additions, alterations and restorations, the last of which occurred in the 18th century.
San Giovanni degli Eremiti church
at
Via dei Benedettini, 20
The church is notable for its brilliant red domes, which show clearly the persistence of Arab influences in Sicily at the time of its reconstruction in the 12th century, the Arab-Norman culture.
Palatine Chapel
on
Piazza del Parlamento
The mosaics of the Palatine Chapel are of unparalleled elegance as concerns elongated proportions and streaming draperies of figures. They are also noted for subtle modulations of colour and luminance. The oldest are probably those covering the ceiling, the drum, and the dome.
Norman Palace
at
Piazza Indipendenza, 1
The Norman kings transformed the former Arabian palace into a multifunctional complex with both administrative and residential aims. All the buildings were linked to each other via arcades and enclosed by gardens, designed by the best gardeners of the middle east.
Zisa castle
at
Piazza Zisa
The edifice had been conceived as summer residence for the Norman kings, as a part of the large hunting resort known as Genoardo (Arabic: Jannat al-arḍ, literally "Paradise on Earth") that included also the Cuba Sottana, the Cuba Soprana and the Uscibene palace.