image for illustration: Monreale Cathedral Mosaics By Berthold Werner – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
The mosaics of a mediaeval cathedral, Monreale in Sicily, built by the island’s last Norman king, are set to regain their golden lustre thanks to careful restoration work and new lighting, reports Reuters.
Reuters writes:
… The Monreale Cathedral, erected in 1174–89 near Palermo on the orders of King William II, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that combines Western, Islamic and Byzantine styles and is home to one of the world’s largest indoor mosaics.
… The glass tiles of the mosaics needed restoring due to damage from water infiltration… to cost 1.1 million euros… covered by European Union funds.
Scaffolding used during the restoration is expected to be fully removed from the cathedral by mid-October…
‘A key focus is to highlight the rich colours of the mosaics…’
