Step Into History
Walk Palermo in 1160
AI rebuilds Balarm (Palermo) street by street, and you walk through it in your browser.
Step Into History · City walk
William I's Palermo, 1160
This is Palermo at the height of Norman rule under King William I: a royal capital where Latin, Greek and Arabic courts and craftsmen meet. The walk moves from the Gulf and harbour through souk-like markets and Norman palaces to terraces that look back over a city of red domes, domed mosques repurposed as churches, and gilded palace roofs.
35 scenes — 22 streets, squares and views, 13 interiors to step inside. Planned from the Wikipedia record of Palermo as it stood in 1160 (“Norman–Arab–Byzantine culture”).
The route, scene by scene
- 1. Gulf and Monte Pellegrino
- 2. La Cala Harbour
- 3. Bab al-Bahr (Sea Gate)
- 4. Ponte dell'Ammiraglio
- 5. Al-Khalisa Quarter
- 6. Capo Market
- ↳ Capo Silk and Candied‑Fruit Hall · interior
- 7. Ballarò Market
- ↳ Ballarò Market Passage · interior
- 8. Vucciria Market
- ↳ Vucciria Fishmarket Arcade · interior
- 9. Cassaro
- 10. Albergheria Quarter
- 11. Royal Palace
- ↳ Royal Audience Hall · interior
- 12. Palatine Chapel Exterior
- ↳ Palatine Chapel Nave · interior
- 13. Cathedral Approach
- ↳ Cathedral Nave of Palermo · interior
- 14. San Giovanni degli Eremiti
- ↳ San Giovanni Red‑Domed Nave · interior
- 15. San Cataldo
- ↳ San Cataldo Apse and Domes · interior
- 16. Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio
- ↳ Martorana Mosaic Sanctuary · interior
- 17. Royal Gardens
- 18. al-Zisa Palace
- ↳ Zisa Fountain Iwan · interior
- 19. Zisa Gardens
- 20. Arsenale and Dockyards
- ↳ Arsenale Shipwright Shed · interior
- 21. Giudecca (Jewish Quarter)
- ↳ Jewish Study Hall · interior
- 22. Royal Terrace Belvedere
- ↳ Belvedere Pavilion Chamber · interior