“Amazing” doesn’t begin to describe the enormous mosaics inside Monreale Cathedral, in Palermo, Sicily. One step inside, and we were all in awe. Our local tour guide did a fabulous job detailing the history and explaining the stories depicted in the mosaic scenes throughout the huge cathedral.
Considered one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture, construction of the cathedral began in 1172 and was completed in 1267. It is just one of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sicily.
The Byzantine-style glass mosaics, totaling 70,000 square feet, were created between the late 12th and the mid-13th centuries by both local and Venetian masters. These 24 carat gold leaf mosaics are the largest in the world.
The cathedral is incredibly well preserved thanks to it being built on a hill away from the sea and not being a military target.
(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)
Following our excellent tour, we had time on our own to explore the streets surrounding the cathedral.
In the afternoon, we continued to Segesta, the topic of my next post.
Next up: SICILY & AMALFI COAST #7: SCENES OF SEGESTA
Elaine-iaK's Travels: A Traveler's Tales of People, Places, Photos, Pools... and CHOCOLATE! 
Interesting how the Catholic Church uses their riches on the building costs and continued maintenance on their elaborate buildings while so many people who are members go impoverished.
For believers, the Christian Bible states in Acts 7:48 and 17:24 that God does not dwell in earthly temples made by human hands. These verses emphasize that God, being the creator of the universe, transcends physical structures and is not limited to being contained within a building.
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Yeah, I hear you, Al. I always think the same thing when I step inside a fancy church or any fancy place of worship!
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