Monreale Cathedral

The most dramatic sightseeing excursion (just 8 kilometers south of Palermo) is to visit Monreale, an awesome cathedral built by William II in 1174. It seems that William II was visited in a dream by an angel who told him of a secret treasure, and with his new-found wealth he built Monreale, one of the world’s greatest medieval monuments. From the outside, the cathedral doesn’t look special, but just wait: the interior is stunning. When you step inside you find 130 panels of shimmering mosaic, illustrating stories from both the Old and the New Testaments. The bronze doors of the cathedral are spectacular, designed by Bonanno Pisano in the 12^th century. This is a cathedral not to be missed.