This is Palermo’s top tourist attraction in a city with the most beautiful Christian churches in the world. The chapel was built by Roger II after 1130 using Byzantine, Islamic and Latin artists. Dedicated to St Peter, it has possibly the best mosaics in the world, covering the entire nave and upper walls.
The oldest ones show episodes from the Gospels. Later ones made by William I show events from the life of St Peter and St. Paul and scenes from the Old Testament.
The dome and central apse area have images of Christ.
The Islamic muqarnas ceiling is entirely of wood with stalactitic and alveolar elements and inscriptions in Latin (1142), Greek (6650) and Arabic (536).
The lower walls are fabulous marble geometric mosaics.
Other noted features are a marble candelabra, carved wood doors and amazing mosaics on the outside wall done by the Bourbons in the 19th century.
Royal Apartments. This 9th-century palace had a 12th-century makeover with nice mosaics in Roger Hall. Besides the grand staircase up to the apartments, the rest is not so interesting, mostly done by the Bourbons.
In the basement was a fantastic watercolour exhibition of Fabrice Moiseau on his grand tour of Sicily. There are at least a hundred paintings.
