Cathedral · Italy · Restored

Cattedrale di Monreale

Monreale Cathedral (Duomo di Monreale) is a large Norman-era Catholic cathedral in Monreale, Sicily, notable for its twin towers, broad basilican plan and extensive Byzantine-style mosaics. The complex includes a well-preserved Romanesque cloister and a Renaissance portico on the west side.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1172

Its prime

1200

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1200

What Cattedrale di Monreale looked like in its prime.

A broad west façade of warm golden-buff limestone flanked by two square towers with belfry openings and crenellated tops; a white marble Renaissance portico with three round arches and Corinthian columns fills the central narthex. Above the portico a gabled central section shows patterned blind arches and a large two-light window. Low-pitched open timber roofs and red roof tiles sit behind the stone walls. The forecourt is a paved square with a circular fountain and statue; the cloister features paired white marble columns and richly carved capitals.

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11 places to explore in 1200.

The record describes 11 distinct spots at Cattedrale di Monreale — including 6 interiors: nave looking east toward the choir, nave looking west toward the portico, triple choir and apse mosaics and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

West approach from the cathedral squareRenaissance portico (narthex) with three archesWest towers and central narthexNave looking east toward the choirNave looking west toward the porticoTriple choir and apse mosaicsNorth-side portal with bronze doorsCloister central garden and lavatorium fountainCloister arcade and carved capitalsNorth of the choir: tombs and votive urnChoir mosaic pavement (opus alexandrinum)

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