| 131 of 244. The cathedral (1174-89) is one of the richest and most beautiful churches in Italy, combining Norman, Byzantine, Italian, and Saracen styles. The legend says there was a huge rivalry between King William II (building this place, Monreale) and the Archbishop of Palermo, Gualtiero Offamilio. Both were building cathedrals at the exact same time. Willie II focused on the inside. “I’m gonna pour so much gold in this place, people will go blind!, whereas Gualtiero focused on the outside. "I’m gonna make my church so big and imposing, it looks like a fortress!" The story ends with both of them dying of a heart attack from pure envy after seeing what the other guy had built. |
