In one of the oldest and popular quarters in Palermo
there's really a "magnificent" palace as its Arabic name suggests:
The Zisa (Al Aziz )
once private residence of the Norman kings in their private gardens of
the Geonard ( Arabic for Paradise in Earth )
Its one of the best examples
of an astonishing architecture
with a purely Islamic inspiration
the ground floor hall with the fountain |
the central hall on the top floor was an open atrium with a breathtaking view |
the muquarnas : the miniature stalactite vaults in the niches and windows |
today the Zisa home to the Museum of Islamic arts
collecting
metalwork, ceramic
and wooden lattice work (Mushrabirryya)
down below
the view of the Zisa district today
where we can just imagine the perfumes and the luxury vegetation
of its gardens
once also hunting reserve for the Norman kings
Commenti
Posta un commento