3/12/18: On our second full day in Palermo, we visited the Cappella Palatina, a church used by the Norman kings and their close family/friends. Because it served such an elite audience, the church was decorated from floor to ceiling with gilded mosaics and colored marble. The inside walls of the nave depicted the cycle of stories from the Old Testament, starting with the creation of the universe and ending with Jacob. Below is one section showing the tale of Noah’s drunkenness (also slightly above this scene, the creation of the heavens and animals). In addition to the many clear Christian elements, the church also displaces Islamic influence, such as the muqarnas decorating the wooden ceiling. Like Sicily, the Cappella Palatina is truly a mix of different cultures.
