Martorana Religious Site

Address: Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (La Martorana), Piazza Bellini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

The church commonly called La Martorana (officially Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio) is a medieval church in Palermo, Sicily, noted for its 12th-century Byzantine mosaics and its place in Palermo’s Arab-Norman heritage. It is one of the city’s principal medieval monuments.

Visitors come for the extensive gold-ground mosaics that decorate the apse and nave, including a large Christ Pantocrator and scenes from the New Testament, which rank among the best-preserved Byzantine mosaics in Italy. The interior combines Norman, Byzantine and Arab decorative elements in a compact urban church.

The building was founded in the 12th century during the Norman rule of Sicily and is associated with Palermo’s maritime administrators of that period. Over subsequent centuries it was adapted and restored but preserves significant original mosaic work from the Norman-Byzantine phase.

La Martorana stands in Palermo’s historic centre close to Piazza Bellini and the Cathedral; it forms part of the cluster of medieval churches and palaces that exemplify the island’s multicultural medieval architecture.

• Visiting tip: Often paired on visits with the nearby Norman Palermo sites such as the Palatine Chapel and Palermo Cathedral for a fuller view of the Arab-Norman period.

What to See#

• Main nave and apse mosaics: The central church interior contains extensive 12th-century Byzantine-style mosaics, including a prominent image of Christ Pantocrator in the apse and richly decorated nave mosaics.
• Cloister and bell tower: A small adjoining cloister and bell tower form part of the urban church complex in Palermo’s historic centre, adjacent to Piazza Bellini and near San Cataldo Church.

La Martorana (Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio) sits in Palermo’s historic centre next to the Cathedral. It’s an easy walk from central landmarks: about 5 minutes from Palermo Cathedral and roughly 15-20 minutes (≈1.5 km) on foot from Palermo Centrale railway station; local city buses or taxis also serve the historic core.

• Arrive right at opening to see the Martorana's Byzantine mosaics with fewer people and in softer light-this is when guided groups are least likely to be inside.
• The church sits on Piazza Bellini beside the San Cataldo complex and Palermo Cathedral, so combine visits to these nearby Norman/Byzantine sites to make the short walk between them efficient.
• Check posted opening hours and avoid Mass times; the Martorana is an active church and services can close sections of the interior to tourists.