We arrived in Palermo late morning and went straight Monreale, a hill-top town just outside Palermo, to visit the Duomo (Cathedral). Built in 1172, the Duomo is described as the finest Norman building in Sicily and famous for its extensive, magnificent mosaics. According to Gilberto before we arrived, this church has the best mosaics in all of Italy. When I asked if they were better than those in Ravenna, he said they are the best in Sicily. Having downgraded the mosaics, I have to say I was blown away by their splendour. They would have to come a close second to Ravenna.

The rich mosaics, completed in 1182, show scenes from the Old testament, the teachings of Christ and the Gospels, and the story of Noah's Ark .

The Duomo's Aspe exterior was decorated in rich, multi-coloured ornamentation in tufa and marble.

Before heading to the hotel we spent a couple of hours in Palermo's city centre, exploring on our own. I visited the Royal Palace with it incredible mosaics in the Palatine Chapel. I think these were even better than those of Monreale Duomo.

What can I say about Palermo? It's a city; the 5th largest in Italy - and that's the most pleasant thing I can say about Palermo. It is an ugly, dirty, unloved city and smells of urine. I would never come here again and would advise others to avoid it at all costs. It's a shame you need to be in Palermo to go to Monreale Duomo and the Palatine Chapel

Luckily the hotel we are staying at in Palermo, the Grand Hotel Villa Igea is on the outskirts of town and is in a lovely setting with great views of the marina. However, once you walk out the hotel gates, the ugliness returns. When I walked into my room, all I could say was "Oh my goodness". The room is big enough to get lost in and my balcony is a patio big enough to accommodate outdoor furniture and an umbrella.