The Palatine Chapel was founded in 1132 by Ruggero II and it was consecrated to Saint Peter. The Chapel is housed on the first floor of the Norman Palace, an impressive and composite building of Arabic origin (XI century), enlarged by the Normans during the XII century and restructured many times till the XVIII century. The Chapel can be considered the Christian temple, emblem of the Norman Kings' Enlightenment spirit. Inside there are many things to be admired: the architectonic structure (a nave and two aisles plan with a reduced transept, pointed arches supported by granite columns), the mosaic decorations, the marbles, the wonderful wooden alveolate ceiling of 1143 composed by stalactites in Arabic style, the royal throne, the mosaic ambo and the Paschral Candle of the XII century. But the artistic triumph is represented by the Byzantine mosaics which cover the chapel. Those represent "Tales of the Saints, from the Gospel and from the Bible", "Saints, Prophets and Archangels" and the "Pantokrator [Almighty] Christ" shining in the main abse. The hall of the royal apartments are adorned with frescos which represent hunting scenes such as King Ruggero's hall, full of mosaics (c. 1170). An inscription in Greek characters warns: " I am the light of the sun, who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will receive the light of life". In apparent contrast with the Christian ideal, the decorations of the ceiling are a masterpiece of the Arabic art and represent scenes of everyday life, animals, symbolic scenes and typical festivities of the Islamic culture; a clear evidence of the work of cultural integration which the King of Normans promoted, a process which influenced deeply the cultural evolution of Palermo.

The Inside
The first thing which attracts is the richness of the various decorations, assembled in a small space. The Chapel has a basilical plan, with ten columns which separated the nave and the two aisles. The mosaic floor is composed by semi-precious stones arranged in various interlacements and drawings. The walls are covered till a certain height with mosaic marble. The presbytery is placed higher than the nave and has three apses. The central altar dates back to the end of the XVIII century. The semispheric cupola has eight small windows and in its centre there is the Pantokratic Christ. In the walls of the central nave episodes from the Old Testament are represented, while in the two aisles episodes from the Acts of the Apostles Peter and Paul are narrated. The ceiling is made of wood, with alveolate inlays and intricate pictorial decorations.

The Vestibule
It's a gallery with six columns, which extends between two bodies along the external side. Six pointed arches start from the columns. The external wall is covered with marble slabs and geometric patterns mosaics. Upon a succession of tondos representing the Apostles and the Saints there are five large mosaic panels of the XVIII century, made by Santi Cardini da Arezzo and by Pietro Casamassima during the reign of Ferdinando di Borbone. Those panels represent the vicissitudes of Assalone, David's rebellious son. On the main door there is another mosaic by Casamassima which represents the crowned Genie of Palermo.

The Treasure
Annexed to the Chapel there is the treasure, in permanent exhibition in the Crypt. It shows embossed silver plate, vestments, liturgical objects, silver urns, precious cases and a Tabularium which contains parchments from the XI to the XVIII centuries. The most precious objects are kept in the "Fine arts Gallery". Guy de Maupassant, who visited Palermo in 1885 said about the Palatine Chapel: "It's the most beautiful church in the world, the most amazing religious jewel human mind had ever dreamt".