Palermo's secret 'Camera delle Meraviglie' opens to the public

A mysterious room hidden for decades beneath layers of plaster in a private apartment in Palermo, Italy, has been revealed and opened to the public. Known as the 'Camera delle Meraviglie' (Room of Wonders), the small blue chamber is decorated with silver Arabic inscriptions. Dating to the mid-19th century, its purpose remains uncertain: it may have been a 'Turkish room' for relaxation, a prayer room oriented toward Mecca, or, according to scholars from the University of Bonn's Institute of Oriental and Asian Languages, a magical chamber used for Masonic initiation rites. The owners decided to share its history by opening the room to the public this weekend and by appointment in the future. A documentary has also been made about the room.