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Somewhere between the 8th and 6th Centuries BC, the Phoenicians colonized the area of what would become Palermo in Sicily, previously inhabited by Sicans, Cretans, and Elimi. In 254, the city was conquered by the Romans and after centuries of peaceful Roman rule, the area was ravaged by barbarian invasions starting in the fifth century. The city was conquered by the Byzantine Empire, which governed it for about three centuries, until 831. The Arabs took the city from the Byzantines and under their rule, Palermo enjoyed a period of splendor and prosperity. Normans succeeded in gaining possession of the city after a long siege in 1072. Subsequently, the city fell under the rule of the Swabians, the French, and finally the Spaniards. By the 18th Century, Palermo had become part of the Kingdom of the Naples, comprising Sicily and southern Italy. There were more rebellions in the 19th Century, ending with the landing on the island by the great Italian liberator, Garibaldi, who took the city as part of his campaign to make all of Italy a new country. This was achieved by 1870 when Palermo became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

Fenician la origine (se numea Ziz: floare), fortăreață cartagineză în perioada grecească, a fost cucerit de romani în timpul primului război punic (245 î. Hr.). Asediat și cucerit de Genseric, Odoacru și Teodoric, s-a aflat sub suzeranitatea Bizanțului din 535 până la cucerirea sa de către arabi în anul 831.Capitală de emirat (948), comparabilă cu cele mai mari orașe ale lumii musulmane, a trecut la normanzi în 1072. În timpul domniei lui Frederic II (1194-1250), devine centru cultural de primă importanță și punct de întâlnire al culturilor arabă, iudaică și creștină. Mai apoi este stăpânit de suabi, de francezi şi apoi de spanioli. Decadența, survenită în timpul dominației Casei de Anjou, a continuat sub dominația aragoneză, spaniolă (sec. XVI) și a Bourbonilor din Neapole (din 1736).Participant la mișcările din 1820 și 1848, orașul a fost eliberat de către Garibaldi și a făcut parte (începând din 1860) din nou creatul stat italian.

Chiesa della Martorana The Chiesa della Martorana in Palermo dates from 1143 and is famed for its spectacular mosaics. Its official name is Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio but it is better known as La Martorana. The church's more common name comes from Eloisa Martorana, who founded a nearby Benedictine convent in 1194.

Biserica Martorana datează din anul 1143 şi este faimoasă datorită splendorii mozaicurilor care îi acoperă pereţii. Numele său oficial este Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio dar este cunoscută mai degrabă ca Martorana, după numele fondatoarei mănăstirii benedictine alăturate.

Glittering Norman-Byzantine mosaics from c.1150 cover the interior, including on and around the columns that hold up the principal cupola. The mosaics were overseen by George of Antioch himself, who was of Greek descent and loved the Byzantine mosaics of his homeland. Scholars think the craftsmen who designed these mosaics also did the mosaic work in the Cappella Palatina.

Roger II receiving the crown from Christ

Chiesa San Giuseppe dei Teatini

Chiesa San Giuseppe dei Teatini

Chiesa San Giuseppe dei Teatini

Piazza MarinaChiesa Santa Maria della Catena

Although begun in 1566, most of the internal decoration of Santa Caterina in Palermo dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. A powerful example of Sicilian Baroque, it overwhelms the senses with colors, textures, sculpture and marble inlay.

Closing off the eastern side of the square is the Chiesa di Santa Caterina, Palermo's finest baroque church. Belonging to a Dominican monastery, the church is held in trust by seven very old nuns, who kept the doors of the church shut for 14 years, finally opening them again for visitors on Christmas Eve 2006. The entrance is on Piazza Bellini.

Santa Caterina

Santa Caterina

Santa Caterina

Chiesa Santa Caterina

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione al Capo

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione

pittura Giuseppe Velasco Santa Rosalia -Tesoro della catedrale, museu Palermo

Icona della Natività di Gesù Cappella Palatina

"To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.“

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Sound: ♦ Roberto Alagna - Agnus Dei – G.Bizet

♦Giuni Russo - Maliconia (Ninfa gentile) - V.Bellini

Text & Pictures: InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda