Hotels near Norman Palace & Palatine Chapel

The Norman Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) is the oldest royal residence in Europe and today the seat of the Sicilian regional parliament. Its true treasure is upstairs: the Palatine Chapel, a private royal chapel from the 1140s whose every surface is covered in gold Byzantine mosaics beneath a carved Islamic wooden ceiling.

The mosaics depicting Christ Pantocrator and biblical scenes are among the finest medieval art in Europe, and the fusion of Latin, Greek, and Arabic craftsmanship sums up Norman Sicily in a single room. The royal apartments and the Sala di Ruggero add more mosaics of hunting scenes and exotic beasts.

Pro Tip: Book online, as the chapel caps visitor numbers. Note it closes to tourists on parliament sitting days - check before you go, and arrive early to beat tour groups.