Palazzo Reale o dei Normanni - Palermo

The palace was built around the 10th century by the Arab emirs.

By the Norman kings, who chose it as their residence, it was conceived as a fortress , but also as a residence of exceptional opulence and refinement.

They used the technical mastery of Muslim workers for their architecture, thus producing 'Arab-Norman art'. The series of buildings that make up the current Royal Palace are the result of additions carried out between the 16th and 17th centuries , which gave the complex a unified character.

Inside, in addition to the beautiful Palatine Chapel , it is possible to admire the Hall of Hercules , built in 1560 and so named because of the presence of paintings depicting scenes of the mythological hero created by Giuseppe Velasquez. The hall of the Duke of Montalto is decorated with frescoes painted by Pietro Novelli. The Viceroy Hall contains twenty-one portraits of viceroys, presidents and lieutenants of the kingdom. In the Hall of King Roger, mosaics with naturalistic motifs are placed on a background of gold tiles on the walls and vaults. In the Queen's Hall, in Pompeian style, there are paintings by Giuseppe Patania.

The Astronomical Observatory has been located in the Pisana Tower since 1791.

Since 1946, the Palazzo dei Normanni has been the seat of the Assembly of the Region of Sicily and convenes the Sicilian Parliament , which boasts of being the oldest in Europe, founded by King Roger in 1140.

Since July 3, 2015 , Palazzo dei Normanni has been part of the Norman Arabian Route, included as a human heritage on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Willem Vandenameele