La Martorana (Martorana Church), Palermo (must see)

Martorana church, also known as the Church of Saint Mary of the Admiral, was founded by George of Antioch, a Syrian Christian who served as the principal minister and admiral of King Roger II of Sicily. One of the most powerful figures at the Norman court, George commissioned the church as his personal foundation, originally following the Byzantine rite, though it was not formally Eastern Orthodox in the modern sense.

The foundation charter dates to 1143 and was written in Greek and Arabic. Construction may have begun slightly earlier, but the church was certainly completed by 1151, the year of George’s death. Tradition holds that George of Antioch was buried in the church, likely in the narthex area.

Around 1194, Eloisa Martorana, a noblewoman, established a Benedictine convent adjacent to the church. Over time, the convent absorbed the church, which then became commonly known as La Martorana. The nuns gained fame for creating marzipan sweets shaped like fruit, known as “Martorana fruit”. Although the convent community eventually left, the name and the confection remain closely associated with the site.

Over time, the church underwent several architectural changes. The narthex, added later, now forms part of the entrance area. The bell tower, with its layered arches and loggias, survives from the medieval structure and today serves as the main point of entry.

The church is especially renowned for its interior mosaics, among the finest Byzantine mosaics in Sicily. One of the most wonderful images shows Roger II being crowned directly by Christ, positioned to the left as you face the altar. Above, the dome features Christ Pantokrator, surrounded by angels, prophets, and evangelists, forming a luminous theological and artistic centerpiece.