From its removed, quiet hill top position overlooking the city of Palermo, Monreale is a rather unassuming location for one of the most splendid churches in the world. Built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by the Norman king William II, the cathedral at Monreale is very similar to the Capella Palatina in that it also contains a captivating fusion of architectural styles, artistic traditions, and religious symbolism. One of the most noticeable distinguishers of this structure from its counterpart in Palermo is its grand scale. The cathedral in Monreale truly takes the magnificence of the Capella Palatina and expands it to monumental proportions. For instance, the mosaic image of Christ Pantokrater positioned inside the main apse calotte in Monreale is an enormous 120ft wide! When visiting the Cathedral at Monreale, one can’t help to be amazed by the spaciousness and grandeur of the interior.