On our second day in Palermo, we visited an Islamic Museum called Palazzo of the Zisa. The Zisa was built around the 12th Century during the Norman rule of Sicily and became a sort of summer palace for the Norman King Roger. The palace was built by Arabian craftsman and thus was heavily influenced by Moorish architectural style, an indication of the strong connections Sicily maintained with Islamic culture at the time. Inside the Palazzo of the Zisa there was an exhibition of Islamic culture composed of metals, ceramic pieces, and wooden artifacts.
I found the broad palace to be somewhat formidable in its vastness and apparent isolation from the heart of Palermo. Inside, it was hard to imagine anyone actually residing there. However, the view from the second floor overlooking the city was captivating and I could then understand the appeal of the palace’s isolation. This photo features the palace’s swimming pool enclosed by a gate beyond which the city lies.