Perfected as an art form by the Romans and Byzantines, mosaics have stood as both status symbols and spiritual guideposts. Stories are brought to life through the use of tesserae — cubes of stone, ceramic or glass — and every viewing experience leaves an impression. Here's where to find some of the most memorable mosaics around Italy, spanning floors and facades of churches to embellished nooks of private palaces.

Palatine Chapel, Palermo

Like so many of the mosaics in this roundup, the Palatine Chapel’s treasures in the Norman Palace of Palermo are a visual fusion of several different cultural influences. But given their location in Sicily, one of the world’s textbook “melting pots,” the impression of multicultural hands at work perhaps comes through more vividly.