Rebuilding The Renaissance

Originally built in the 14th century, the Dominican church and convent were both renovated in the 16th century. While the church displays a n almost dizzying example of Sicilian Baroque architecture, the well-preserved convent is instead quite sober and reflects what mosaic life was like for the nuns. The convent is also home to a still active bakery called "I Segreti del Chiostro" which offers visitors delicious local specialties.

Originally carved in 1554 for the garden of a Spanish nobleman in Florence, the so-called "Fountain of Shame" was dissembled in 644 pieces and transported to Palermo, Sicily, after having been sold to the Senate of Palermo.  Situated on the western side of the Dominican church and nunnery of Santa Caterina, the abundant nudity of the fountain was thought to be shameful in such proximity to the chaste nuns.

The Quattro Canti is a spectacular example of Sicilian Baroque architecture on a grand scale!  Marking the entrance to Palermo's historic district, the Quattro Canti (technically Piazza Vigliena) is a large octagonal piazza laid out in the early 17th century, four side of which are occupied by Baroque facades. Each of these facades contains allegorical fountains on the ground level, statues of Sicily's Spanish rulers of Sicily on the next, and Palermo's four patron saints above.

Construction on the church of Sant Maria dell'Ammiraglio in Palermo, Italy, began in 1143 CE under the patronage of George of Antioch, admiral of King Roger II's navy, from which the church gets its name. The church preserves an extraordinary collection of 12th-century mosaics, the two most important of which are "Christ Coronating King Roger II" and " George of Antioch at the Feet of the Virgin Mary." In later centuries, the church received various Baroque-style additions and decorations, and the nickname "La Martorana" from the nearby Benedictine nunnery.

Built as a royal chapel in the 12th century CE by King Roger II, the Norman ruler of Sicily, the Palatine Chapel is a beautiful manifestation of the influences of Byzantine, Norman, and Islamic art and architecture. The chapel is home to one of Italy's most important examples Byzantine mosaic decoration and an almost unique example of a non-Islamic muqarnas ceiling.