Palatine chapelPalatine chapel
Construction began in 1130, the year that Roger II was crowned the king of Sicily, and the architecture and artwork are indicators of his religious tolerance. The wooden ceiling is in the form of an Islamic design (mugarnas), common to mosques, but never before found on a church. The Saracen mosaics include human figures, which is a departure from tradition. The mosaic in the dome of the great Christ Pantocrator, surrounded by angels is Byzantinian
King Roger's room
King Roger's room is on the second floor, and is now a part of the Assembly's quarters. The wall mosaics depict hunting scenes and plants, a style of eastern (especially Persian) origin