Piazza Guglielmo II in Monreale (PA) is dominated by the imposing Norman Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Nuova, commissioned by Guglielmo II d'Altavilla and built between 1174 and 1185. The façade has a portico with three arches from the 18th century enclosed by two imposing towers. The part behind, which displays more of a Norman influence, has three orders of arches.
Inside three naves are separated by 18 columns while a great part of the surrounding surface areas are covered in gold-based mosaics, mostly created by Byzantine artists, featuring Biblical characters and stories and dominated by a giant Christ Pantocrator (his right hand alone is two metres high) in the main apse.
Adjacent to the cathedral is the monumental complex of the Benedictine convent with a square cloister.
Sicilia Film Commission
Via Emanuele Notarbartolo 9 — 90141 Palermo
Phone: +39 091 7078008; +39 091 7078264; +39 091 7078133; +39 091 7078145
Email: filmcommission@regione.sicilia.it
