Description of the attraction
Cuba is an amazing example of the Arab-Norman style, the former country residence of the Sicilian kings in the vicinity of Palermo. The palace was built in the 12th century at the behest of King William II the Good on the way to his official residence and the Monreale Monastery. The exotic Arabic style was not chosen by chance - Wilhelm especially appreciated the oriental way of life. According to his idea, Cuba was to be different from all famous European castles and become a real oasis of tranquility and relaxation. That is why it was erected in a hunting park on an island in the middle of an artificially created pond. In the 13th century, the magnificent palace and its interiors impressed the great Italian writer Boccaccio so much that he made them the setting for one of the short stories of his immortal creation, The Decameron.
When the Kingdom of Sicily ceased to exist, Cuba changed owners and its purpose for many decades. In the late 16th - early 17th centuries, it housed a hospital, then, under the Bourbons, the palace was occupied by a cavalry regiment, which remained there until the 19th century. Unfortunately, the years of "wandering" around the hands did not pass without leaving a trace for Cuba - the surrounding park was destroyed, and a parade ground with faceless barracks was set up on the site of the pond. Today, the palace, owned by the government of the Autonomous Region of Sicily, houses the Museum of Arab Art. Nearby, by the way, is the Palatine Chapel - another monument of the Arab-Norman style in Sicily.
The name of the two-story Cuba comes from the cubic shape of the structure. Its facades are decorated with false arches and lancet windows, typical elements of this style. On the inside, you can see stone carvings and Kufi inscriptions. But, alas, little has survived from the interior of the once luxurious palace to this day - the interiors, roofing and interfloor ceilings have not survived.
You should also pay attention to Kubola - a small pavilion, also built during the reign of William II the Good. In its forms, it is similar to the main palace, but it is more modest in size. Its characteristic features are deep arches and a red hemispherical dome, reminiscent of the domes of the churches of San Cataldo and San Giovanni degli Eremiti in Palermo. Kubola stands in the center of a small cozy garden - restoration work is underway inside the building.
