Norman Churches
Although Frederick was a tireless builder; his fortresses, citadels, and palaces number more than 200, there are very few churches. This is unsurprising as Frederick, unawed by the pope, was twice excommunicated and called by the pope the "self-confessed heretic" and the "blasphemous beast of the Apocalypse" (20 March, 1239). As the Cathedral of Alamura is the best example of churches built by Frederick, we have to turn to his Norman predecessors to gain some appreciation of the topic.
| Monreale Duomo | Monreale, Sicily, Italy, 1130 - 1189 - Architect unknown |
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| (Above) Interior on the Monreale Duomo and larger image of the Pantokrator Mosaic (Above Right). The mosaic on the right shows God placing planets in the heavens. |
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| Cefalù Duomo | Begun 1131 by Norman architects and Islamic craftsmen, the church was conditioned by Byzantine liturgical prescriptions. (Renovated in 1267) |
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 (Right) The spires can be seen just to the left on the mountain and near the sea. |
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The Palatine Chapel, Palazzo Reale, Palermo 1132-1143 by Roger II |
| Christ Pantokrator mosaic below the dome. |
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View of the Nave |
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