The Cathedral of Monreale, 8 km from Palermo, is a religious building with a Latin cross and three naves. It was built in 1174 according to the typical layout of Normandy churches. Each side aisle is one third the width of the central one. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it is an international pilgrimage destination. It is enriched by spectacular Byzantine mosaics. Worth visiting are the Sicilian Baroque style Cappella del Crocifisso and the Tesoro della Cattedrale, containing the reliquary with a thorn from Christ’s crown. The adjacent Benedictine monastery arcaded cloister is also very beautiful.