Monreale, famous for its gold Byzantine mosaics and Norman architecture, is a 12th-century city less than fifteen minutes from Palermo.
The Cathedral is a UNESCO site
Famous the world over for its splendid Cathedral with its over 6,000 square metres of golden mosaics, in 2015 UNESCO added it to the World Heritage Site list as part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale. Anyone visiting Monreale, which is on a high hill overlooking Palermo, is there to visit the Cathedral. And to do so they will find themselves on the little town’s main square which also has the Monastery of St. Benedict. The Cathedral is in three different styles, Arab, Norman and Byzantine, and has a wide nave ending at the main apse. 
Golden mosaics and a majestic Christ Pantocrator
The jewel in its crown are the famous mosaics. There are over 130 of these gold Byzantine mosaics commissioned by William II, and made by Venetian craftsmen who, it has been estimated, used 2,200 kilos of pure gold. Depicting episodes from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the lives of the saints, they are divided into cycles and each one tells a story. The most important mosaic is the Christ Pantocrator (ruler over all) at the end of the nave. This huge mosaic creates a stunning visual effect with a half-height portrait of Christ, his left hand holding a book in Latin, while his right hand is raised in blessing.
There are splendid views from the roof of the cathedral
From the roof of the Cathedral there are splendid views of the cloister, the monastery, the city of Monreale, Palermo and the Conca d'Oro, which is Palmero’s coastline with its groves of citrus trees. The Bendectine Cloister, each side of which has 26 double arches - many decorated with mosaics or reliefs and with beautiful carved Romanesque capitals - is the world’s most striking and largest group of sculptures to survive from Norman times. The fountain, a tall column carved like a stylized palm tree, was once used by the monks to wash their hands before entering the refectory.
Monreale is famous for its crusty bread
Monreale is also famous for its bread which is subjected to a double rising and is very crusty. Many residents of Palermo drive up to the hill town every day to pick up freshly baked loaves.
