Montreal is a suburb of Palermo, a pretty small town in which the Norman King William II ordered the erection of the grand Duomo di Santa Maria La Nuova. Which was built here in the years 1174-76: 106 m long and 40 m wide.
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How to get
Montreal is just 7 km from Palermo. There are buses 309 and 389 from Piazza Indipendenza.
Search for tickets to Palermo (nearest airport to Montreal, Italy)
A bit of history
The city is spread on a low mountain . In the distant past - the Arabian village, later, from the 11th century, the Norman settlement . From this time on, the significance and fame of Montreal began to grow: in this town the Norman kings preferred to rest after feats of arms . And one day, when William II was resting during the next deserved rest (and it was in 1172), he dreamed a dream: I Madonna came to him and told him to spend the war trophies obtained by his father, to start a good cause, to build a temple in her, Madonna, honor . And, as usual, she indicated the place where the temple should be erected . Being a pious and pious person , Wilhelm II did not postpone the matter in a long box and 15 years later at the indicated Madonna there was already the Cathedral of the city of Montreal, and next to it was built a palace for the archbishop . The cathedral turned out to be the most beautiful . Still, he had to immortalize the King's name . Besides, Wilhelm was eager to outdo and the cathedrals that his grandfather and father built in Cefal и and Palermo . Arab architects were invited, as a result, the cathedral combined elements of Moorish architecture and features characteristic of Christian Northern European buildings . And since it was in the 12th century that Italian artists have reached unprecedented heights in icon painting, the cathedral received an amazingly beautiful interior painting . Dominates all the frescoes of the image of Christ the Almighty .
The market and souvenirs
The city around the cathedral and the monastery grew . He wrote very organically I am in the terrain, going down from the top of the hill to the sea . Typically Italian narrow streets, paved with stones, flower beds on the windows, create quite a nice face of the city . On the main square of the city for many centuries in a row, the market is unfolding over the weekend. which you can buy everything that is rich in Sicily .A lot of people come here, the spectacle is of interest to tourists . Here you can also buy authentic souvenirs, such as local ceramics (Sicilian craftsmen make not only functional things, but also nice magnets, which are very difficult to resist before buying) .
Montreal is also famous for the fact that there is a special laboratory where mosaic specialists are trained. They are taught various techniques, for example, the production of a "layered" mosaic, when a layer of gold leaf is laid over the glass pieces, and on top again is a layer of smalt depicting the plot. The work of the masters is sold in a small shop in the laboratory, only the most persistent can resist the purchase of such work.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions Montreal
The cathedral is the only worthy sight in the town . Its facade is decorated with bronze doors depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Usually they are opened only on major holidays, and on ordinary days you can get into the cathedral through the side door.
The cathedral is huge, its walls are covered with mosaics, their area is so large, and the stories taken from the Old and New Testaments are so varied that the cathedral is considered one of the world's largest collections of mosaics . Until now, the Cathedral is the main attraction of the city of Montreal .The courtyard of the Benedictine monastery adjoins the cathedral, it also clearly features features of Moorish buildings . The arches that bound the courtyard are supported by richly decorated columns, one of them depicts Wilhelm II, who brings the cathedral as a gift to Madonna . Since 1995 the cathedral is under protection of UNESCO as a unique historical and architectural monument .
The remains of the Benedictine monastery of the 12th century are preserved in the right wing of the cathedral. Until now, the monastery courtyard of Ciostro (Ciostro) has been beautifully preserved - a square 47х47 m, consisting of 4 walls, consisting of columns connected by arches in the spirit of Arab yards surrounding the inner garden. It is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
There are several places in the city, from which a panorama of nearby Palermo is opened, the spectacle is as impressive as it is pleasant. And from the city garden you can admire the panoramas of the island of Sicily. But the history of the city is not so serene, as at first glance it may seem. The streets of the city saw bloody battles between the rebellious Sicilians and the French, who then owned the island in 1282.
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Castellició Castle and the Benedictine Abbey
Near the town there are two more sights worthy of attention . It is Castle Castellicio . It was built on Mount Caputo, on the slopes of which is Montreal, in the 12th century . This is a Norman fortress, the only one in the vicinity of Palermo, which has preserved its original appearance . To strengthen the climb here is not only to admire the old walls, but also to see the magnificent panorama of Palermo and the coastline . The second attraction is the Benedictine abbey . It was built in the 6th century . e ., 300 years later it died in a fire, and in the 14th century it was restored . Abbey is still in operation, besides it has a rich collection medieval art, some exhibits are unique . If you are lucky over time visiting the abbey, you can hear a choir of monks, in whose repertoire spiritual songs . Foto Montreal (Italy) (9)