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The history of the palace goes back to the 9th century during the time of Arab rule, but probably goes back even further. The Arabs built the palace on an older Roman and Punic fortress. Over time it was abandoned by the Arabs, and the conquering Normans restored it into a sumptuous residence. During the reign of Frederick II, the Palace enjoyed a period of splendor, and became the center of cultural life in the city, as the headquarters of the “Sicilian School”.The palace houses the spectacular Cappella Palatina inside, which was also built by the Normans. The Normans came and went, and by the mid-16th century the palace was in serious decay until discovered anew by Spanish viceroys, who in 1555 began its rescue and once again turned it into a royal residence. Today it is the seat of Sicily's semi-autonomous regional government

Palatul Normanzilor (Palazzo dei Normanni) - a fost ridicat în secolul IX de conducătorii arabi dar probabil sarazinii au construit pe locul unei fortăreţe romane sau cartagineze mai vechi. Abandonat de arabi a fost restaurat de normanzi care l-au transformat într-o reşedinţă cu adevărat fastuoasă, adăugând şi Capela Palatină. După plecarea normanzilor palatul decade, însă pe la 1555 viceregii spanioli îl readuc la splendoarea de odinioară transformându-l din nou în reşedinţă regală. Din 1946, palatul a găzduit Adunarea Regională Siciliană, care pretinde a fi cel mai vechi Parlament al Europei.

Frederic II

Cortile Maqueda

On entering the Palazzo complex the visitor will first enter a square courtyard surrounded by three-storyed arcades of rounded arches; it was constructed in 1600 by the viceroy Maqueda, and named Cortile Maqueda after him. The flight of steps leads to the very core of the palace, the Cappella Palatina on the first floor and the Appartamenti Reali (Royal Apartments) on the second.

Cortile Maqueda

Palermo, Palazzo dei Normanni, the Yellow Room. Fresco by Giuseppe Patania (1830) with Roger of Sicily Receiving The Keys of the City

the Hall of Mirrors, sometimes called the "Yellow Hall" because of all its stunning candelabra.

the Hall of Mirrors ( the "Yellow Hall“)

the Hall of Mirrors ( the "Yellow Hall“)

Gloves of Emperor Frederick IIThese gloves were worn by the Emperor at his coronation in 1220.

As with many of the other sumptuous garments that make up the Insignia of the Holy Roman Empire, the gloves were made in the Royal Workshops of Sicily.

Sala Hercule

Robe of the norman king of Sicily, Roger II, made in 1133

Sala Hercule

Robe of the Norman king of Sicily, (Viena)

Salone d'Ercole, from 1560, the chamber of the Sicilian parliament. The salon is named for the mammoth frescoes, created by Giuseppe Velasquez in the 19th century, depicting the Twelve Labours of Hercules

Sala di ErcoleRegrettably, little is left of those golden days, when this was the most magnificent of European medieval courts.

These gloves were made in the early 13th century for the coronation of Emperor Frederick II..

This floor is only open on Monday and Friday when Parliament does not meet.

Today, the Palazzo dei Normanni is the seat of Sicily’s regional government

Sala di Ruggero II

The Sala di Ruggero II is where King Roger himself slept. It's decorated with 12th-century mosaics.

Sala di Ruggero II

Sala di Ruggero II

Sala di Ruggero II

Sala di Ruggero II

Sala di venti

Cortile Maqueda

Sala di venti

The flight of steps leads to the very core of the palace, the Cappella Palatina on the first floor and the Appartamenti Reali (Royal Apartments) on the second.

Cappella Palatina: Carved figures on the paschal candelabra Cappella Palatina: Painted honeycomb ceiling

Next to the palace is the Porta Nuova, built to celebrate the arrival of Carlos V in Palermo in 1535 after a victory over the Tunisians. Designed in the Mannerist style, it was partially destroyed by lightning in 1667 and rebuilt with the addition of the conical top. More than 400 years later, it still serves as a demarcation line between the old and new city.

Sound: Bella Sicilia canzoni amuri cummari Gian Campione

Text & pictures: Internet Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda