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The Norman arrived in Sicily from France in 1061, and won control over the island over the next thirty years. They engaged in building campaigns to establish their presence in each region in stone.
The dominance of Palermo, or particularly of the bishop at its cathedral, was so strong by 1172 as to lead King William to establish a competing church, palace and monastery nearby at Monreale. He finished most of the church by 1182 and the vast, twenty-five bay square cloister by 1200.
The photo shows a view of the nave and side aisles from the cloister courtyard.
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