Cappella Palatina

The Cappella Palatina ( Palatine Chapel ) was built from 1132 to 1140 AD under King Roger II in the Norman- Arab- Byzantine style as a court chapel of the Palazzo Reale in Palermo. The consecration took place in the dome in 1143 according to an inscription.

Construction

Structure and iconography of the Palatine Chapel are determined that they should correspond to the two then widespread in Sicily rites, the prevailing since the 8th century in Sicily and the Byzantine rite again introduced by the Norman rulers of the Roman Rite. While according to the Byzantine (Eastern ) tradition, the iconography is to be read vertically (as in La Martorana ), ie starting from the dome down, it is according to the Latin ( Western ) tradition to read horizontally (as in the Cathedral of Monreale), ie from the front ( the apse ) backwards. Both traditions are linked in the Cappella Palatina. To the running manner of a central building with dome presbytery, a three-aisle nave joins the manner of a western basilica.

The floor is decorated with ornate marble and porphyry. The wooden ceiling is richly decorated with Arabic carving. Having this is of massive marble columns with Corinthian capitals. The highlight is probably the mosaics on the walls and in the dome. While eight rows of angels in the dome to Christ as Pantocrator, are on the side walls depicting the life of Christ and Paul, as well as episodes from the Old Testament. The mosaics are made ​​of colored and decorated with gold leaf glass.

From 2003 to 2008, the chapel and its world famous mosaics with the support of the German entrepreneur and art patron Reinhold Würth were restored.