Visiting the Cloister of Santa Maria La Nuova in Monreale means discovering the best Italy has to offer, a place recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
An experience in the heart of Sicily that we couldn’t recommend highly enough.
-
Opening days
- Cloister
from Monday to Saturday
from 9.00 to 19.00
Sunday and Holidays (1 and 6 January, 8, 25 and 26 December) from 9.00 to 13.30
August 15 from 9.00 to 19.00
Last admission 30 minutes before closing time - Cathedral, Diocesan Museum, Roano Chapel, Terraces
from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 13.00 I 14.30 to 16.30
Sunday and Holidays (6 January, 8 and 26 December) only Cathedral from 14.30 to 16.45
May 1, 2023 from 9.00 to 13.00
Last admission 15 minutes before closing time
- Cloister
-
Closing
- Cathedral
25 December, 1 January
2 june 2023 -
November, Duomo not accessible at times
- November 11th from 10.00 to 12.00
- Cathedral
-
Feature List
- Info line
- Downloadable Audioguide
-
Accessibility
Only the Cloister's area is wheelchair accessible. The entrance is from Villa Comunale.
CLOISTER OF SANTA MARIA LA NUOVA-CATHEDRAL OF MONREALE. HISTORY
The Cloister belonging to the complex of the Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria la Nuova, founded in 1174 on the orders of Norman king William II, is a magnificent example of Byzantine architecture in Sicily.
Square in shape, it is the linchpin of the entire abbey complex built around it. It is cadenced with arches supported by little columns decorated with mosaics with geometric and floral motifs. The wonderful decorations on the capitals depict scenes from the Old and New Testament as well as animal figures and floral motifs.
VISITING THE CLOISTER OF SANTA MARIA LA NUOVA
The itinerary will bring you face to face with all the beauty of this architectural gem as you explore its various sacred spaces and places of power.
Your visit will enable you to explore the Cathedral, to read the Old and New Testaments on the mosaics, to admire the Christ Pantocrator and then to head on to the Chapel of the Crucifix - better known as the Roano Chapel, named after its founder - which houses the Treasure of the Cathedral. Proceeding towards the Parish Museum and the chapter house of St. Placidus which hosted all of the monks, you will finish your tour by strolling along the walkways of the cloister.
Don’t miss the chance to visit the Cathedral’s terraces from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city.
Embark on an adventure rich in history and beauty. Ask us how to best organise your visit.
Services
-
Visits
per singoli in calendario
available in Italian, English -
Visits
per gruppi su prenotazione
available in Italian, English
[email protected] -
Didactics for schools
su prenotazione
available in Italian, English
[email protected] -
Audioguide
SOLO CHIOSTRO
available in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish
€ 5,00
durata 1h
DUOMO E CHIOSTRO
€ 5,00
durata 1h - Bookshop
Where
Piazza Guglielmo il Buono, Monreale (PA)
Transportation
By bus: From Palermo (Piazza Indipendenza) to Monreale: route 389.
By car: from Palermo take Corso Calatafimi as far as the city exit and take the SS 186 and then the SP 69 to Monreale.
Visiting Rules
Face masks strongly reccommended. Find out more
VIRTUAL REALITY AT THE CLOISTER OF THE BENEDICTINES
A part of the Benedictine Cloister is currently involved in important and urgent restoration work which for a few months will prevent the complete visit to the public. CoopCulture, in collaboration with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Palermo, has thought of a 4.0 solution, with particular latest generation viewers, you can immerse yourself in a very high resolution 360 ° video, to discover the most suggestive corners of the cloister Benedictine.
The virtual reality experience is included in the regular entrance ticket to the site.
