Sicilian Cathedral’s stunning mosaics regain golden lustre

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By Guglielmo Mangiapane

MONREALE, Italy (Reuters) – The mosaics of a mediaeval cathedral in Sicily, built by the island’s last Norman king, are set to regain their golden lustre thanks to careful restoration work and new lighting.

The Monreale Cathedral, erected in 1174–89 near Palermo on the orders of King William II, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that combines Western, Islamic and Byzantine styles and is home to one of the world’s largest indoor mosaics.

The church is “unique in the world,” and the beauty of its art “is like a dart that strikes you, wounds you, makes you suffer, creates passion and at the same time opens the heart,” local archpriest Father Nicola Gaglio said.

The decorations, covering an area of 6,500 square metres (7,774 square yards) and depicting biblical stories from the Old and New Testament, are believed by experts to have been made using 2.2 tons of pure gold.

Their highlight is the giant depiction of “Christ Pantocrator” (literally “ruler of all”) in the apse, or half-dome, at the back of the cathedral. It is a typical Orthodox Christian icon, also present in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

The glass tiles of the mosaics needed restoring due to damage from water infiltration, regional authorities said last year, adding that work was slated to cost 1.1 million euros ($1.23 million), covered by European Union funds.

Scaffolding used during the restoration is expected to be fully removed from the cathedral by mid-October, while the new lighting, provided by Austrian company Zumtobel, is undergoing testing and is due to be inaugurated in late November.

“A key focus is to highlight the rich colours of the mosaics, especially the dominant golden tones, while keeping the lighting neutral on other surfaces to create a balanced visual experience”, Matteo Cundari, a Zumtobel executive, said.

According to legend, King William II fell asleep under a carob tree while hunting in the woods near Monreale when the Holy Virgin appeared to him in a dream and suggested building a church on the spot.  

The legend also said that after removing the tree a treasure was found in its roots, and its golden coins were used to finance the construction.

($1 = 0.8942 euros)