We had been recommended to visit the cathedral at Monreale by a friend who is married to a Sicilian. She told us that it is the most beautiful cathedral she had ever seen. I would definitely agree that it is spectacular and ranks amongst one of the most memorable that I have visited, and I have visited many in my lifetime.
It is a Norman cathedral and is one of the most important attractions of Sicily. Personally I much preferred it for its beauty and architecture to the cathedral at Palermo.
We paid 3 euros each to go up the tower but did not manage to go right to the top as we are not great lovers of heights, but I gather that the views from there are amazing. We also visited the side chapels which were both spectacular and breathtaking.
Monreale itself is a pretty little town and I would have loved to have spent longer there but we were confined by the bus timetable – incidentally Palermo does not have the greatest bus service in the world and buses will sometimes be cancelled without reason. Apart from that it is definitely well worth a visit and a must-see if in Palermo.
