Monreale (Sicily)

Monreale is a town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, in Sicily, southern Italy. It is located on the slope of Mount Caputo overlooking the valley of the Conca d’Oro (Golden Shell), which is planted with citrus groves and backed by mountains. Monreale forms its own archdiocese and is home to a historical Norman-Byzantine cathedral. This has been designated as one of several buildings named in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a group of nine inscribed as Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale. The cathedral (1174–89) is one of the richest and most beautiful churches in Italy, combining Norman, Byzantine, Italian, and Saracen styles. Particularly notable is the interior mosaic decoration, one of the largest in existence. It was created in less than 10 years by a group of craftsmen trained in Byzantium. The subjects of the mosaics include an Old Testament cycle, the miracles of Christ, the life of Christ, and the lives of Saints Peter and Paul.