Paradoxplace Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Britain Photo & History Pages
Paradoxplace Sicily Photo and History Pages
Monreale Cloisters
Link to Monreale Duomo Link to Paradoxplace Cloisters' Page
The Normans and the Hohenstaufen Kings of Sicily and Southern Italy 1000 - 1266
Back to Paradoxplace Palermo Photo and History Pages
The cloisters of the Monreale Duomo rank alongside those of Santo Domingo de Silos and Moissac amongst the best of European cloisters.
When we visited Monreale in November 2003, we were yet to discover Zodiac Signs as used in Romanesque church art - but the little Nikon was clever enough to pick up the Pisces fish and the Gemini twins on this column set near the fountain - in fact three of each ... now to get back and find the rest!
Link to other Zodiac Cycles in Paradoxplace
Norman King of Sicily William II (1153 - 1189) presents his new cathedral to the Virgin and Son (capital)
From L: Eve, Apple, Serpent, Adam (capital)
The two photos above come from an outstanding coffee table book called "Cloisters of Europe" which is presently out of print, but can be obtained on the second hand book market.
Buy
from Amazon USA
Buy
from Amazon UK
Link to Paradoxplace Cloisters' Page
Cloister capital - source not recorded
The view back towards Palermo from the outside of the south side of the cloisters
Links to other Paradoxplace pages
All original material © Adrian Fletcher 2000-05 - The contents may not be hotlinked, or reproduced without permission.