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La Zisa: the magnificent




 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



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