Tags: Palermo Sicily Sicilia February 2006 catherdral square sky vapour trail statue EOS350D PD532-02
As with many buildings in Sicily, this church and the Norman Castle in the background demonstrate the fusion between Christian and Arab cultures on the island in the 11th -12th Century.
Sicily has been ruled by the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans (Holy Roman Empire), Spanish and now is part of Italy. Architecture, food and culture all reflect these changing fortunes.
Tags: San Giovanni degli Eremiti Palermo Sicilia Sicily February 2006 Special Domino #8 ONLY KIDS, DOGS, CATS, SUNSETS, or CHURCH SPIRES
As with many buildings in Sicily, this church demonstrates the fusion between Christian and Arab cultures on the island in the 11th -12th Century.
Sicily has been ruled by the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans (Holy Roman Empire), Spanish and now is part of Italy. Architecture, food and culture all reflect these changing fortunes.
Tags: San Giovanni degli Eremiti Palermo Sicilia Sicily roof February 2006 PD612#18 italy italia monastery monastere monastero monasterio monestir klaster kloster klasztor church chiesa kirche klosterkirche eglise igreja kostel domes
A Norman church built by Arab craftsmen. Built in 1132, San Giovanni was once the wealthiest monastry in Sicily.
Tags: Palermo Sicilia Sicily February 2006 San Giovanni degli Eremiti dusk photodomino 186 #04
Built and decorated by George of Antioch, Ammiraglio to the Norman Counts (then Kings) of Sicily. Second only to the ruler, the Ammiraglio was a Christian given the title of "Emir", transliterated to 'ammiraglio' and in time and although it originally had no nautical meaning, the origin of the modern word "Admiral".
The church, another fusion of christian and islamic styles is decorated with mosaics in the Eastern, Byzantine style. Having recently been part of the Byzantine, or Eastern Roman, Empire, many Greek craftsmen would have been on or visited, the island to do the work of their patrons. Sicily now contains some of the finest Byzantine mosaics left in the world.
This view shows the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus with angels, shepherds and animals looking on.
Tags: Martorana Palermo Sicily Sicilia mosaic Byzantine Nativity PD592#21