Sicily: Palermo Part 1 Palazzo dei Normanni (Sicily's Parliament) and Cappella Palatina

When Christopher and I travelled to Palermo the first time for the Questura, we took the train to Piazza Indipendenza and so discovered how close that station is to Palazzo dei Normanni. I prevailed on Sheila, my new friend, to go for a girls' day out and we took the train to Palermo to see the sights. We were slightly astounded by the lineups, but a kind Italian American told us that it was moving quickly, which it was. Nevertheless, here's the lineup to see the Capella Palatina - an 1130 church inside the Palazzo;

So, rather than stand in the big crush, we went to the next floor up, to check out the parliamentary seating arrangements. Yes, this stunning historic building, one of the most visited sights in Palermo, is their regional parliament. The House itself was suitably majestic, but the meeting rooms were something else! I'm particularly found of the 'red room' which has walls covered in crimson red silk damask.

The Yellow Room - one of the Parliamentary meeting rooms. 

I snuck this photo in the parliamentary meeting room of the set of doors which open just under Hercules' ass... I'm certain there is a rude name for this exit...

The Red Room, another Parliamentary Meeting Room

The Parliamentarians have their own glorious mosaic rooms, which are under renovation so we only got pocket views.

At this point I decided I needed a pee break... which was a horrible ordeal. In this enormous building there are no bathrooms. You have to leave through the ticket controlled exit, then queue for another ticket and wait in line to enter again. There are no photos of this insane process. On the other hand it was worth it to go back in for the chapel. I don't think the photos really give you any idea of the feeling of being inside .... the mosaics are like paintings, multi-dimensional and engaging. Sheila couldn't believe they were mosaic. It's the glitter that got me, all that gold! Apparently at the time the decoration was applied in 1140 the floors which are all inlaid were worth as much as all the rest of the decoration put together.

See all the gold?

I don't recognize all the characters, many are old testament. 

This fellow is Absalom... 

Can you imaging all the labour? All the glass? The Gold?

The interior of this chapel is famous for the image of christ in the dome - properly called the apse I think... He looks majestic;