Monreale

Monreale is a town in Sicily, Southern Italy, close to the city of Palermo. It is located about 310 meters above sea level on the slope of Mount Caputo. Long ago, Norman kings used this area for hunting and built a royal palace there, which is why the town is named Mons Regalis, meaning "Royal Mountain."

The town grew very important when King William II of Sicily built the beautiful Monreale Cathedral and a large Benedictine monastery nearby. In 1183, Monreale became the home of an archbishop, making it a key religious center.

Today, Monreale has its own archdiocese, and the cathedral is part of a special group of buildings recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale.

History

See also: History of Palermo and History of Sicily

After the Arabs took over Palermo, the Bishop of Palermo moved to a small church called Aghia Kiriaki in a nearby village. That village later became Monreale.

When the Normans arrived in 1072, they took back the main cathedral in Palermo. But because Monreale had been an important church spot, King William II decided to build a grand cathedral there.

For many years, Monreale stayed small. But when the Norman Kings of Sicily began using the area for hunting, they built a palace. This brought more people and trade to the town. Under King William II, a big monastery for Benedictines from Cava de' Tirreni was built along with its church. The monastery helped protect the area, and Monreale became an important religious center for all of Sicily.

Main sights

The Cathedral

The cathedral of Monreale is one of the greatest old buildings. It was started by a ruler named William II and finished four years later. In 1182, an important leader called Pope Lucius III gave it special status.

The cathedral is very big, measuring 102 metres long and 47 metres wide. It has two tall towers and a beautiful door with special designs. Inside, there are many colorful paintings and decorations.

Other sights

• Castellaccio, a strong old building on a hill, was built in the 12th century by King William II.
• Abbey church of San Martino delle Scale, a very old church with many beautiful paintings and designs.
• Church of Collegiata (16th-19th centuries)
• Church of Santa Ciriaca
• Church of San Silvestro

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy

Monreale is twinned with:

• Bielsko-Biała, Poland

Notable people

Monreale is where famous people were born, like Rocky Segretta, who played American football. It is also the birthplace of the Panormo family, who made musical instruments.