Outside the cathedral, the cloister is a tranquil courtyard with a tangible oriental feel. Surrounding the perimeter, elegant Romanesque arches are supported by an exquisite array of slender columns alternately decorated with mosaics. The detail on each capital is different; together they represent a unique sculptural record of medieval Sicily. The capital of the 19th column on the west aisle depicts William II benevolently offering the cathedral to the Madonna.
