“In loco qui dicitur Galca”. New Observations and Hypotheses on the Norman Palace in Palermo

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents the results of an intensive study of both historical sources and literature concerning the Royal Palace in Palermo. The study of this architectural palimpsest deals with the intrinsic difficulty in distinguishing continuity and discontinuity across a stratified overlap of medieval phases, here defined as a mimetic phase of transition. The paper aims to trace the development of the building from the Norman conquest to the establishment of the kingdom, also taking into account a possible pre-Norman phase and the transformations which occurred in the Early Modern period. Issues concerning the construction of the first Palatine Chapel are also addressed, which leads to the individuation of hidden layers of the Palace. The final part of the paper focuses on one of the most important Norman portions of the Palace: the Torre Pisana. The analysis of its medieval structure reveals its Islamic features and opens new hypotheses on its original function and configuration.