At the time of the Norman Conquest, Palermo was one of the greatest commercial and cultural centres of the Muslim world. It was a busy metropolis with over 300 mosques, abuzz with markets, exchanges, craftsmen and artisans. In 1072 Palermo fell to the Normans, taken by Roger I. During the 12th century Palermo became the most intellectually active and artistically eclectic centre in Europe, witness to a brilliant fusion of Norman, Arab and Byzantine art and architecture.
