Entrance Ticket to Monreale Cathedral Complex
27.10.25Description
This ticket allows access to one of the most important monumen of the Sicilian-Norman Middle Ages, offering you the possibility to meet and understand the founding idea that moved King William II who strongly wanted not only the building of the cathedral, but of the entire abbey complex.
The declared intent of the Norman King was for Monreale to become the region’s reference point of the ecclesiastical world. This was also the reason why he granted the monastery to a Benedictine order that came from Cava dei Tirreni in the Salerno region of southern Italy. The cathedral - which was archbishop's seat since its foundation - was architecturally completed with the construction of the extraordinary cloister, an elegant example of monastic architecture, a true “hortus conclusus” (“enclosed garden” in the Medieval sense) where it is easy to imagine the monks walking, reading and praying.
Please note that the ticket will allow you the visit only to the Cloister
The cloister forms the fulcrum of the entire complex of the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria La Nuova, founded in 1174 at the behest of the Norman King William II. The elegant square cloister is surrounded by pointed arches that end in double columns. These are beautifully decorated with mosaic, with zig zag motifs or with late-classical plant motifs.
Similarly rich and varied is the decoration of the capitals that are sculpted with exquisite artistry and detail. Here, you can find themes related to religious iconography, to the Old and New Testament, animals from the medieval bestiary and the Middle Eastern tradition of plant motifs.
Additional information
IMPORTANT NOTE: The time you select on the order form is your preferred time. The closest available time, which can be anytime during opening hours on the selected date, will be automatically confirmed if your preferred time is no longer available.
