Sicily Monreale

Monreale tower from the Belvedere (which means beautiful view and is usually a terrace).

Pupi Siciliani: the Sicilian traditional marionettes. The best show ever!!!! Listening to the stories of Charlemagne's knights sang in Sicilian and how Orlando lost his mind and became rageful is the best!

Monreale Duomo.

Interior done in traditional Byzantine style with golden tiles mosaics portraying the higher part of the church as Heaven and the lower part - with white marble - is Earth.

Christ Panthocrator: one of the three most beautiful depictions on this Planet. (I prefer this one to the Cefalù one, personal taste)

This is a traditional grindstone (or millstone).

A mosaic artist.

The Chinese palace is a classic chinoiserie (meant to look vaguely Chinese but not entirely). Too bad it was closed because inside it looked like this!

I always thought it looked funny and interesting, especially since the writing on top of the porch is only meant to look Chinese but it's not actual writing! XDDD