Church · Italy · Restored

Cappella Palatina

The Cappella Palatina is the royal chapel inside the Norman Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) in Palermo, Sicily, combining Byzantine mosaics, a wooden muqarnas ceiling of Fatimid inspiration, and Norman architectural elements. Built in the 12th century as the palace chapel of Roger II, it has a three-aisled basilica plan with a raised sanctuary and royal throne platform.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1101

Its prime

1143

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1143

What Cappella Palatina looked like in its prime.

Rectilinear three-aisled basilica 33 by 13 metres, defined by two rows of recycled classical columns carrying pointed arches; lower walls faced in polychrome marbles and cosmatesque floors, upper walls and apses covered in gold-ground Byzantine mosaics, and a painted wooden muqarnas ceiling of layered star-and-octagon modules suspended above the nave. The raised sanctuary and dome present a central Pantokrator mosaic, while the west end holds an elevated throne frame with marble intarsia and heraldic roundels.

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10 places to explore in 1143.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Cappella Palatina, including 9 interiors: narthex / vestibule with exterior mosaics, central nave looking east to sanctuary, north aisle and royal loggia and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Exterior approach from Cortile MaquedaNarthex / vestibule with exterior mosaicsCentral nave looking east to sanctuaryNorth aisle and royal loggiaRoyal throne platform (west wall)Sanctuary, crossing and dome with PantokratorSouth transept arm and narrative mosaicsPainted muqarnas ceiling detailRoyal balcony and northern chapelStair to the hypogeal church (Santa Maria delle Grazie) and crypt

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