Monreale is a wonderful village which is famous worldwide for the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova and its monastery.
Thanks to its cathedral, Monreale, the Arab – Norman site of Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalu have been declared as part of the World Heritage by UNESCO site in 2015. Monreale overlooks the valley and due to this strategic function Arabs built their stronghold there. The beauty of the town is strongly connected to the Norman period, and was made famous worldwide for the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova and its monastery. Built in 1174 by Guglielmo II, it is considered a magnificent building with its Byzantine mosaics, a work of art rich in history and artistic influences. Close to the Duomo, the Cloister of the Benedictine convent is an astonishing example of Byzantine architecture.
Monreale also provides two interesting museums, the Museo Diocesano, opened in 2011 and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Giuseppe Sciortino.
People live here:
39.410
It is famous for:
The poets Antonio Veneziano (1543 – 1593), Giuseppe Fedele (1878 – 1941)
The painters Pietro Novelli (1603 – 1647), Terruso Xavier (1939-2003), Antonio Leto (1844 – 1913)Silvio Guardì (1945 – 1999)
The Archbishops Francesco Maria Testa (1704 – 1773), Antonio Augusto Intreccialagli (1852 – 1924),Cataldo Naro (1951-2006)
The philosophers Vincenzo Miceli (1733 – 1781), Benedict D’Acquisto (1790 – 1868)
The violin maker Vincenzo Panormo (1734 – 1813)
The actor Antonio Spinnato (1952- 2009)
The cyclists Guido Messina (1931), Patellaro Benedict (1960)
The coach and former player Casisa Francis (1943)
The singer Frankie Laine
The priest Gaetano Millunzi (1859 – 1920)
Attractions:
Settimana Musica Sacra a Monreale, sacred music festival
How to get there:
From Palermo
By Car
from the Falcone-Borsellino – Punta Raisi Palermo airport
A29 Catania – Messina
By Bus
Bus n. 109, 824, 108 from Piazza Indipendenza, Palermo
Accommodations:
Hotel Guglielmo 4*
http://www.hotelguglielmo.com/
B&B Rocca di Monreale 3*
http://www.roccadimonreale.it/sito/
B&B Al Giardino
Locanda Re Ruggero 2*
http://www.locandareruggero.it
Hotel Palazzo Ducale Suites 3*
http://www.palazzoducalesuites.it/
Hotel Baglio Conca d’Oro 4*
http://www.hotelbaglioconcadoro.com/
B&B Hotel Duomo
http://www.hootelduomomonreale.it/it/
B&B Elvira al Duomo 3*
B&B La Collegiata
http://www.collegiatabbmonreale.it/
B&B Villa Montereale 3*
http://www.villamontereale.com/
B&B La Piazzetta
http://www.lapiazzettabnb.com/
Genoardo Park Hotel 4*
via Aquino, 126, 90046 Monreale PA
Ph. +39 091 6466599
B&B Domus Notari 3*
B&B Monreale
Restaurants:
Taverna del Pavone
http://nuke.tavernadelpavone.eu/
Osteria pub Peper’s Bricco e Bracco
Poggio Normanno
La prateria dello zio Sam
Beaches: