Palermo
In the city there are so many monuments such as the Cathedral, made built in 1184 by the archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio and the Chiesa of St. Giovanni degli Eremiti (Church of St. John
of the Hermits) in typical Norman style. Of the same period there are the Chiesa di St. Maria dell'Ammiraglio (Church of St. Maria of the
Admiral), known like the Martorana from the name of the homonimous Eloisa Martorana founder of the next benedectine convent. Beautiful is the Chiesa del Magione (Church of the dwelling) of the XII century Romanesque made. Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) or called Normans', residence of Sicilian Parlament and the Fontana Pretoria (Praetorial Fountain) of 1500 placed in Pretoria square.
Very important are Massimo Theatre, one of the greatest and enchanting theatre of all Europe, and Politeama Theatre both neoclassic. There is also Palazzo Abatellis (Abatellis Palace) an
imposing building in Gothic-Catalan, that houses the Galleria Regionale di Sicilia (Regional Gallery of Sicily).
Cefalù
Famous tourist centre in the ancient times it was called Kephaloidion that originates from the Greek word kefalè (head), referring to the rock that overlooks it. The place is on the west slopes of a spendid promontory. Different evidences found out some caves assure the presence of people in pre-hellenic age. Cefalù has got many important monuments. The valuable Cathedral erected in 1131, inside is full of
works of art among them there are precious mosaics; Piraino Palace of Cinquecento; the church of St. Maria della Catena ornated by a pretty portico; the church of Purgatory and the Monte Pietà (Mount Piety) dated back to the Baroque period.
Monreale
Originally it was an Arabic country house, The Cathedral of Monreale is important for its splendid internal mosaics among them is the figure of the Cristo Pantocratore (Christ Almighty) that stands out for its magnificence in the nave. It represents a valuable mixture of Islamic,
Byzantine and Romanesque architecture.
Jointed to it there is a beautiful Chiostro (cloister). There is also the Palazzo Vescovile (Archbishop's Palace) and the Church of the Mount.
