The Arabs and the Normans left ineffaceable traces of their sojourn on Palermo.

Naples and Messina still bear marks upon their churches of French workmen.

All along the coasts we here and there find evidences of Oriental style imported into mediaeval Italy, while the impress of the Spaniard is no less manifest in edifices of a later period.
Existing thus in the midst of many potent influences, and surrounded by the ruins of past civilisations, the Italians recombined and mingled styles of marked variety.

The Roman, Byzantine, Saracenic, Lombard, and German traditions were blended in their architecture, as the presiding genius of each place determined.

It followed that master-works of rare and subtle invention were produced, while no one type was fully perfected, nor can we point to any paramount Italian manner.