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Roger II ordered construction of the Palatine Chapel in 1129, and in 1140 it was dedicated to St Peter. The chapel harmoniously combines western and Arab styles. The Arab ceiling is painted with animals and greenery and, surprisingly for Islamic craftsmen, figures.

A Christ Pantocrator, crafted by Greek masters using gold and silver tesserae , offers his blessing from the cupola and the apse .

The nave mosaics of Old Testament scenes include Latin inscriptions, indicating that they are the work of Italian artists.

Decorated in 1140, this room in the Palazzo dei Normanni is a fine example of secular mosaic decoration .

The cathedral was founded by the Archbishop of Palermo in 1185, on the site of a former mosque. Remains of the Norman structure include the exterior of the triple apse and the clock tower.

Drastically altered in the 1700s, all that remains of the Norman interior are its tombs.

The treasury highlight is the crown of Constance of Aragón, encrusted with gemstones and pearls crafted in the 12th century. The crypt houses Greek and Roman sarcophagi.

Amid its lush gardens , the five red domes, characteristic of Arab craftsmen, define the church’s exterior.

Behind the church is a small cloister , built 50 years later and more western in concept. Crumbling pointed arches are supported by a row of twin columns. The quiet space, with a lovely garden setting, provides views to the Palazzo dei Normanni.

Founded in 1132, San Giovanni was the wealthiest monastery in Sicily, but today the interior of the church has only a few remains of its original decoration.