Norman wing of the Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo, Sicily
Photograph by M. Nardi 1992

The Royal Palace of Palermo is in part of Saracenic origin. Additions were made by Robert Guiscard, King Roger, the 'Bad',
and the 'Good' William, Frederick II, and the unfortunate Manfred; but with all these changes of time, men, and architecture, it
still keeps a certain trace of the defensive structure. Of course the most beautiful thing in the palace is the wonderful Cappella
Palatina, which was built before 1130 by King Roger II in the Arabic-Norman style and dedicated to St Peter. It is an exquisite
jewel of mosaic decoration, and one of the finest examples of mediaeval art in the world. The glass mosaics representing
scenes from the lives of Christ and St. Peter are on a golden ground, and the whole place radiates with Oriental splendour.
— Italian Castles and Country Seats, T.B. Batcheller, 1911