Castello della Zisa, Palermo

Once surrounded by lush green countryside, this marvellous Norman castle gets its name from the Arab word el-aziz, meaning "splendid". At the height of its glory, this royal residence set in fabulous grounds with its own small lake (which unfortunately no longer exists) was called "Paradiso della Terra" (Heaven on Earth). The castle's simple high-walled rectangular design belies its richly decorated interior covered in marble and mosaics featuring typical Arab motifs called muqarnas.