The Norman Palace in Palermo, the former seat of the kings of Sicily, is the oldest royal residence in Europe. Its greatest attraction is the Palatine Chapel, where every detail reveals the perfect union among different styles: Latin, Byzantine, Arab -  here’s where the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean blends to reflect that ‘melting pot’ that was Sicily in the Middle Ages. 

The Palatine Chapel was commissioned by Roger II, King of Sicily, who wanted to highlight the prestige of his kingdom.  The Latin features are visible in the Roman columns and in the discs of red porphyry on the walls, which had been used by Roman emperors as symbols of their power.