Palazzo dei Normanni

Called The Palazzo Reale ( " Royal Palace "), even Castle of Norman or Norman Palace, is a palace in Palermo. The palace stands at the highest point of the medieval city area.

History

In the 9th century, the summer residence of the Emir of Palermo was built on an elevation between two rivers. After the conquest of Sicily by the Normans Roger II built this residence to his seat of government in which then resided the Norman kings of Sicily. Hence the name Palazzo comes real ( royal palace ) and Castle of Norman ( Norman Palace )

After the end of the political independence of Sicily fell into the palace, as the viceroys of Sicily initially resided in the Palazzo Chiaramonte. Until the 16th century, they built around the old Palace of the Normans and moved their headquarters there. In this modification, three of the four towers of the Norman palace were demolished. The east wing was given a new facade and a courtyard in the Renaissance style.

After the annexation of Sicily to Italy, the palace fell into private hands and was used as a warehouse until it was acquired in 1921 by the government. Currently the palace is the seat of the Parliament of Sicily.

The exterior

On the south side of Via del bastions and on the west side of the Piazza Indipendenza out the grounds of the palace rises above the mighty foundation walls on the street level. On the north side the Porta Nuova is adjacent to the palace, which was built Charles V after his victory in Tunis instead of the old city gate. On the eastern side is located in front of the palace, the Piazza del Parlamento, which merges into the Piazza Vittoria with the Park Villa Bonanno.

In some places, is still the old facade of the Norman period obtained, which is decorated with blind arcades. At the Piazza del Parlamento the Torre Pisan, the last remaining tower is from the Norman period. At it closes to the south the Renaissance façade, which characterizes the appearance of the east side of the palace. At its center is a large portal that forms the official entrance. Access for inspections is, however, on the west side of Piazza Indipendenza.

The interior

Both the main entrance and the visitor entrance leading into the courtyard with Renaissance arcades. Along the north side of the courtyard on the first floor, the Palatine Chapel, built by Roger II in the Arab- Byzantine-Norman style court chapel whose walls extend over and are covered with gold ground mosaics.

The part of the palace, which is used by the Sicilian Parliament and the regional government, is open to the public only on guided tours. The meeting room of the Parliament is the " Sala di Ercole " ( Hercules Hall ) from the end of the 16th century. It was painted in 1799 by Giuseppe Velasquez with frescoes depicting the labors of Hercules.

From the Norman period nor the " Sala dei Venti" ( Hall of the Winds) and the " Stanza di Ruggero " (room of Roger ) originate. The hall of the Winds is a square room, whose ceiling is supported by columns and pointed arches. Originally it was an open atrium. On each of the four sides there is a door. One of them leads to the room of Roger. The interior decoration was executed about 1160 under William I.. The walls are paneled with marble, about the walls are covered with gold ground mosaics, as in the churches of the period ( Cappella Palatina, La Martorana, Cathedral of Monreale). The mosaics represent trees and animals that face each other symmetrically. In addition, a Jagszene and fighting centaurs are depicted. The room has a vaulted ceiling, which is also covered with mosaics.

Excavations

Under the Norman Palace excavations were carried out in which ancient city walls have been uncovered dating back to the Phoenicians and the Romans. Some of these excavations is publicly available.