Passion is what drives this artisan from Monreale to preserve his craft, to enjoy it. With a hammer, he strategically strikes and shapes pieces of glass, stone… any material capable of joining the spectacle of his mosaic. This is how he creates the tesserae, which are by no means the result of chance. ‘Without passion, this would be impossible,’ he stated with absolute conviction. For this reason, these mosaics possess incalculable value. They are unique creations that will eventually vanish with time, with only a few remaining on display in art galleries. For the passion and patience so necessary for their creation are increasingly absent in our modern days.
Later, the mosaics of the cathedral left me breathless with their beauty and splendor, especially when they lit up as the mass began. I observed them closely for minutes, letting myself be permeated by their wonder.
Monreale, just 12 km from Palermo, is home to one of the greatest achievements of Norman art in the world: its Cathedral. Founded as a church in 1172 by William II of Sicily, a Benedictine monastery was soon built alongside it. Its fusion with the Arab art that prevailed before the Norman conquest of the island is remarkable. However, the Cathedral is world-famous for the stunning golden mosaics that cover its entire interior, depicting biblical scenes. In July 2015, the ensemble ‘Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalú and Monreale’ was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
