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.