PALERMO IN 1 WEEKEND
AFTER PALERMO IN 1 DAY ...
Among the many things to see in Palermo, on the second day we recommend that you visit the catacombs of the Capuchin Friars. After the first day you will surely know how to return to Piazza Indipendenza where the beginning of Via Cappuccini is located, go all the way to the traffic light with Via Pitrè and turn right into Via Pindemonte where at the end you will find the convent (15 min on foot or bus line 327 ). Dating back to the XVI century , the convent of the Capuchins_cc781905-5cde-3194-Pace3b-136bad5cf58d_ is annexed to the church of Santa Maria_cc5b5b3b-136bd-136b5-5b5890 in the bbc5 -590 in the 1394b5bd 3194bd 3194-in the church of Santa Maria underground are the famous catacombs. The Convent, known throughout the world for the presence of the vast underground cemetery, has attracted the curiosity of many tourists since the past centuries. The rectangular cemetery is made up of tunnels that were excavated at the end of the 16th century. More than 8000 mummies, standing or lying down, are fully dressed and divided by sex and social category. Among the bodies of the Capuchin Catacombs, the best known is that of Rosalia Lombardo, visible in the Chapel of Santa Rosalia. Born in Palermo on December 13th 1918 and died of pneumonia _cc781905-december -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ 1920 , the girl is one of the last to be buried in the crypt. Wanted by the distraught father, the embalming was performed by professor Alfredo Salafia , already known for the embalming of Francesco Crispi . The opening hours are from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00. The entrance ticket costs € 3.00.
On the second day you cannot miss a visit to Monreale to admire the Duomo, the Cloister and enjoy the view of Palermo from the Belvedere. From the Capuchin convent, return to Piazza Indipendenza and go up along Corso Calatafimi and then continue on the SS186 ring road which will take you straight to Monreale. If you want to go by bus, take the 389p line from "Calatafimi-Cappuccini" with departure every 2 hours at a cost of € 2.
La cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova, or Cathedral of Monreale, is the big- 136bad5cf58d_ 3194-5bd81-136b58c5-136b58d-3194b58-3194 catholic di Monreale non che archiepiscopal seat _cc781905-baddie-archbishop _cc781905-136
Famous for the rich Byzantine mosaics that decorate the interior, it was built starting from 1174 at the behest of_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136badd II Altavilla , king of Sicily dal 1166 _cc781905_bb3b-136bad5cf58d_dal 1166 _cc781905_bb3b_b3b -136b , is In August of 1926 Pope Pius XI l'ha elevated to the dignity of_bad5_bcc7-136bcc3-51384-136 minor basilica .
From July 2015 is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site within the Arab-Norman Itinerary of Palermo, Cefalle .
The building follows the model of the great Benedictine basilicas and the facade is squeezed between the two bell towers . The entrance is preceded by the portico eighteenth -century, and in the upper part of the façade opens a_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5905cc_5cf58d_ bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ ogival framed by a decoration with blind arches intertwined with each other. The baton brises is the characteristic of the Norman sculptural and architectural art of Sicily, zigzag architectural sculptural elements of Anglo-Norman origin present in the cathedral of Monreale and widely used in England in the Norman age. The interior of the cathedral is a Latin cross plan e The naves are divided by ancient columns with pulvinus and_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b58d_bad5ccc7 capitals _cc781905 -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ also ancient with clypei of divinities supporting pointed arches of type Arab ._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58attd_The painted ceilings in the naves and between the vaulted ceilings are uncovered Arabic type. Inside it is then possible to observe on the right side of the apse the porphyry sarcophagus of William I , and the marble sarcophagus of William II the Good ._cc781905-5 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_On the left side are the remains of Margaret of Navarre and Sicily , wife of Guglielmo I , and the sons Ruggero_905 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_e la Chapel of San Luigi dei Francesi with the remains of the king_cc781905-5cde-3194_badd Luigi .
The Cathedral is flanked by the cloister of the ancient Benedictine monastery with a square plan and a portico with ogival arches with double ferrules. The arches are supported by coupled columns, of alternating ornamentation, and the biblical capitelli are decorated with scenes_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_ . In the center, a fountain whose water flows from a column in the shape of a stylized palm shaft and the water comes out of human and lion mouths. The bases of the cloister columns depict different varieties of motifs including stylized leaves, rosettes, lion's paws, heads of beasts, groups of men and animals, frogs and lizards.
Obviously, after visiting the Duomo and the cloister, don't forget to admire the splendid panorama that can be seen from the belvedere!
