Cattedrale di Monreale

The Cattedrale di Monreale is a Norman cathedral in Monreale near Palermo in Sicily. The church stretches 102 meters (335 feet) in length and 40 meters (131 feet) in width, while glass mosaics cover more than 6,500 square meters (70,000 square feet) of interior surfaces.

William II of Sicily began construction of this church in 1174 and the main structure was completed in 1267 in the presence of Pope Clement IV. The Norman rulers wanted to demonstrate their power on the island and create a religious center.

The interior walls display Byzantine mosaics on gold backgrounds, created by artists from Constantinople in the late 12th century. These works combine Norman architecture with eastern design traditions and define the character of the space to this day.

Access is available for wheelchair users throughout the grounds and the building connects to a cloister laid out in a square pattern. The columns of the cloister carry different decorative elements that can be seen during a walk around.

The bronze doors at the left portal were created in 1179 by Barisano da Trani and show biblical scenes in low relief. Each of the cast panels tells its own story and the details remain well preserved despite their age.

Location: Monreale

Inception: 1172

Founders: William II of Sicily

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

Length: 102 m

Width: 40 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale

Address: Piazza Guglielmo II, 1, 90046 Monreale PA, Italy

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 14:00-17:00

Phone: +390916404413

Website: http://diocesimonreale.it/diocesi/basilica-cattedrale

GPS coordinates: 38.08186,13.29207

Latest update: January 5, 2026 16:32