The Royal Palace of Palermo, today seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, is one of the symbols of Sicily and of the rich Sicilian and national patrimony. Formerly fortress, then royal palace and finally building of government, the palace is today an extraordinary and fascinating monumental complex. A casket of artistic treasures like the Palatine Chapel commissioned by Roger II, testimony of the deep encounter between the cultures of the Normans, the Byzantines and the Arabs. The origins of the Palace go back to the xii century, while its present look is mostly due to the additions made by the Spanish viceroys during the Renaissance. Its history is rooted in the viii century B.C., when can be dated the Phoenician structures discovered during the digs of 1984. The scholarly essays of this book, together with the new photographic campaign realized by the photographer Ghigo Roli, are an indispensable guide to the history of the Royal Palace, its manifold functions and the timeless fascination of its rich artistic heritage. With texts by Maria Andaloro, Cinzia Cigni, Piero Longo, Ruggero Longo & Gianni Riotta.