Churches in Sicily

All photos unless otherwise stated: Per-Erik Skramstad © Wondersofsicily.com

 

 

Monreale Cathedral

Palermo Cathedral

Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi

Casa professa

Santo Spirito

 

 

 

Photos of some of the most interesting Norman and baroque churches in Sicily.

 

 

Siracusa

Palermo

Monreale

Termini Imerese

Noto

Nicosia

Cefalù

Halaesa Arconidea

Taormina

Gibilmanna

Trapani

Modica

Ragusa

Caccamo

 

Siracusa

The facade of the Cathedral in Siracusa, a powerful Sicilian-Baroque composition erected in 1728-54. It was designed by Andrea Palma.

 

On 11 January 1693 Sicily was struck by an earthquake destroying more than 70 cities and killing 60.000 people. As a result of the earthquake in 1693, whole cities had to be rebuilt. In Val di Noto (Noto Valley), many of the Baroque cities have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the justification, UNESCO writes: "The exceptional quality of the late Baroque art and architecture in the Val di Noto lies in its geographical and chronological homogeneity, as well as its quantity, the result of the 1693 earthquake in this region."

 

 

Detail of the ornaments of the baroque cathedral in Syracuse.

 

 

 

Related links

• Depictions of Jesus (as Christ Pantocrator) in Sicily
• The Monreale Cathedral
• The Cefalù Cathedral
• Mosaics in Sicily
• Churches in Sicily

 

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Churches in Palermo

Santo Spirito

The Norman church Santo Spirito.

La Martorana (Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio), Palermo

Roger II receiving the crown directly from Christ and not the Pope. Mosaic in the Martorana, Palermo. The mosaic carries an inscription Rogerios Rex in Greek letters. After the Sicilian Vespers of 1282 the island's nobility gathered in the church for a meeting that resulted in the Sicilian crown being offered to Peter III of Aragon.

 

 

Christ Pantocrator in Martorana (Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio), Palermo. The 12th century mosaics were executed by Byzantine craftsmen.

 

 

The Church of the Gesù (Casa Professa), Palermo

The marble reliefs with their figural and ornamental motifs in the Jesuit Church of the Gesù are unique.

 

The Church of San Domenico

The large church of San Domenico in Piazza San Domenico was rebuilt in 1640 but the imposing facade was made in 1726.

See more photos of San Domenico here...

 

Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi

The magnificent portal (1302) and rose window of Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi. The church was damaged by an earthquake in 1823 and during air raids in 1943. After the Second World War it was restored.

 

Cross (second half of 15th century) from Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi, Palermo. Now in Galleria Regionale della Sicilia, Palazzo Abatelli (the Gallery of Art for the Sicilian region).

 

Detail of Christ as the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei), center of cross (second half of 15th century) from Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi, Palermo. Now in Galleria Regionale della Sicilia, Palazzo Abatelli.

 

Chiesa di Sant'Orsola, Palermo

Detail of an altarpiece in Chiesa di Sant'Orsola, Palermo.
Click here for more on death in Sicily.

 

 

Stucci by Giacomo Serpotta in Chiesa di Sant'Orsola, Palermo.

 

Chiesa Santa Maria della Catena (Church of Saint Mary of the Chain)

A painting of Mary with the child Jesus at her breast is found in Chiesa Santa Maria della Catena (Church of Saint Mary of the Chain) close to Porta Felice in Palermo. Jesus is depicted as an adult and Mary's breast is exposed. The painting was later censored and painted over. It has now been restored, but you can see the new painting to the left and the right of Maria and Jesus.

 

Chiesa di S. Ninfa dei Crociferi

Tomb (1772) in Chiesa di S. Ninfa dei Crociferi, Palermo (Sicilia).

 

Mary in front of a crucifix. Chiesa di S. Ninfa dei Crociferi, Palermo.

 

Chiesa del Carmine Maggiore

Chiesa del Carmine Maggiore with its spectacular dome.

 

Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria

Putto with Veronica's veil. Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, Palermo.

 

 

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Monreale

Photo: Per-Erik Skramstad / Wonders of Sicily

 

Christ Pantocrator: The cathedral in Monreale, Palermo, is regarded as the most beautiful of the Norman churches in Sicily. The mosaics were made with 2200 kg of pure gold, experts have estimated. Craftsmen from Constantinople were employed to expedite the work. The Byzantine mosaics are among the most magnificent in the world.

The most common translation of Pantocrator is "Almighty" or "All-powerful". In this understanding, Pantokrator is a compound word formed from the Greek words πᾶν, pan (gen. pantos), i.e. "all" and κράτος, kratos, i.e. "strength", "might", "power". This is often understood in terms of potential power; i.e., ability to do anything, omnipotence. Another, more literal translation is "Ruler of All" or, less literally, "Sustainer of the World". In this understanding, Pantokrator is a compound word formed from the Greek for "all" and the verb meaning "To accomplish something" or "to sustain something" (κρατεω). This translation speaks more to God's actual power; i.e., God does everything (as opposed to God can do everything).

 

Bust of the painter Pietro Novelli in front of the bell tower of the cathedral in Monreale, Palermo.

 

"Monreale" is a contraction of monte-reale, "royal mountain". According to Lisa Sciortino (The Cathedral of Monreale), the rear part of the cathedral "preserves intact its Norman imprint and is decorated with design elements comprising a series of black and white stone arches with neatly orderes circles beneath. The apses, with their dense interweaving ogival arches evoke Moorish atmospheres accentuated by a polychrome decoration."

The inlaid lava stones are from Vesuvius.

The outsides of the principal doorways and their pointed arches are magnificently enriched with carving and colored inlay, a curious combination of three styles - Norman-French, Byzantine and Arab.

 

Chiesa Odigitria (Via B Civiletti) in Monreale was built by Greek-Albanian immigrants in 1596. The church has a frescoed ceiling by Pietro Novelli and stuccoes by Giacomo Serpotta. The church has been closed all the times I have visited Monreale.

 

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Termini Imerese

The High Altar of the Termini Imerese Cathedral.

 

 

Noto

The baroque cathedral in Noto.

 

 

The baroque cathedral in Noto seen from a low angle.

 

 

Noto: Detail of the church of San Domenico by Rosario Gagliardi from Syracuse.

 

 

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Sicilian Sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List

• Agrigento: Archaeological Area of Agrigento (UNESCO)
• Aeolian Islands: Isole Eolie. The group consists of seven islands (Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea) and five small islets (Basiluzzo, Dattilo, Lisca Nera, Bottaro and Lisca Bianca) in the vicinity of Panarea. (UNESCO)
• Caltagirone (UNESCO)
• Catania (UNESCO)
• Cefalù Cathedral
• Militello Val di Catania (UNESCO)
• Modica (UNESCO)
• Monreale Cathedral
• Mount Etna (UNESCO)
• Noto (UNESCO)
• Palermo: Palazzo dei Normanni (The Norman Palace)
• Palermo: Cappella Palatina (The Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace)
• Palermo: Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti
• Palermo: Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (also known as the Martorana)
• Palermo: Church of San Cataldo
• Palermo: Cathedral of Palermo
• Palermo: The Zisa Palace (La Zisa)
• Palermo: The Cuba Palace (La Cuba)
• Palazzolo Acreide (UNESCO)
• Ragusa (UNESCO)
• Scicli (UNESCO)
• Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica (UNESCO)

 

 

 

Cefalù

You walk down the narrow street called Corso Ruggero (Ruggero = Roger), and suddenly a piazza is revealed to your right with a magnificent church dramatically situated in front of the mountain Rocca di Cefalù. The Cathedral in Cefalù (Duomo Basilica Cattedrale) is one of Sicily's most important buildings from the Norman domination of the island. It was Roger II who started the construction in 1131.

Photo: Per-Erik Skramstad / Wonders of Sicily

 

 

According to the historian John Julius Norwich (author of "The Normans in Sicily") the representation of the Pantocrator is the most sublime of all – "perhaps of Christ in any form in all Christian art". Construction began in 1131, the apse mosaics begun in 1145. After 1172 the church suffered a period of decline; the façade was completed in 1240. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1267 by Rodolphe de Chevriêres, Bishop of Albano.

Photo: Per-Erik Skramstad / Wonders of Sicily

 

Church of the Purgatorio (Chiesa di Santo Stefano Protomartire)

The Church of the Purgatorio (Chiesa di Santo Stefano Protomartire) between Corso Ruggero 104 and 106, Cefalù. The church was built in the 15th century, restored 17th century. Notice the skulls above the entrance, for details see the page Death in Sicily.

 

Detail of the exterior of the Church of the Purgatorio (Santo Stefano Protomartire) in Cefalù.

 

Putto holding a skull. Church of the Purgatorio (Santo Stefano).

 

Relief by the main entrance of Chiesa di Santo Stefano.

 

Relief by the main entrance of Chiesa di Santo Stefano, Cefalù.

 

The Church of the Purgatorio (Chiesa di Santo Stefano Protomartire).

Chiesa di Santa Maria

Chiesa di Santa Maria (15 Via Umberto I)

 

The Baroque murals of the Church of Santa Maria were being restored when I visited the church March 2015.

 

Baroque mural in the Chiesa di S. Maria, Cefalù.

 

Entrance of Chiesa di Santa Maria. Anno 1681.

 

Chiesa di San Leonardo

The church of San Leonardo was originally dedicated to San Giorgio. According to a Wikipedia article about the church (which has no references), it is mentioned in documents of 1159 and 1252 and is attributed to a foundation by Roger II prior to that of the cathedral. It was restored in 1558, a period in which it seems to have received its current title. In 1648 it was annexed to the "House of sheltered orphan girls" by bishop Marco Antonio Gussio, and in 1875 it was restored again by bishop Ruggero Blundo. There remain traces of the original central portal, currently closed off. (The information is not verified.)

 

 

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Halaesa Arconidea (aka Alesa Arconidea)

Next to the custodian's house at Halaesa Arconidea (aka Alesa Arconidea) lies a medieval church, Santa Maria delle Palate, with some original painted statues in wood and a Madonna and Christ holding a globe in their hands made by the Gagini school. During the Norman period the church housed a Benedictine monastery and cloister that belonged to the resident abbot of the Church of Saint Bartholomew in Lipari. The church was first mentioned in legal documents in 1123, and was restored by Pasqualino Scaluni in 1551.

 

Detail of the crucified Christ in the medieval church Santa Maria delle Palate at Halaesa Arconidea.

 

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Taormina

The cathedral, San Nicolò (a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas), built in the 13th century. Observe the crenelations on the roof. The portal was rebuilt in 1636. The fountain in front of the cathedral is baroque. The church occupies the area and the ruins of an earlier basilica. It was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th century and restored in the 18th century. Each doorjamb bears eleven carved figures showing some unidentified persons as well as Saint Peter with the keys of Paradise, saint Paul with the sword of Faith, king David with the cither, and the four evangelists: Saint Luke (the Bull), Saint John (the Eagle), Saint Matthew (the Angel), Saint Mark (the Lion). From 1945 to 1948, the church was fully restored by the Neapolitan architect Armando Dillon.

 

Church of San Pancrazio (Chiesa di San Pancrazio), Taormina

Detail of marble tomb (anno 1697) in the floor in the Church of San Pancrazio, Taormina. Saint Pancras (aka Pancratius / San Pancrazio) is the patron saint of Taormina.

 

 

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Gibilmanna

The Sanctuary of Gibilmanna bathing in the evening sun.

 

Trapani

The elaborate facade of La chiesa delle Anime del Purgatorio (Church of the Souls in the Purgatory), one of the many baroque 18th century churches in Trapani. The facade was made by Giovanni Biagio Amico.

 

 

La flagellazione: The flagellation of Christ (detail), one of the many sculptures used in the "Misteri" processions on Good Friday in Trapani. The sculptures are kept in the Chiesa delle Anime del Purgatorio (Church of the Souls in the Purgatory).

 

 

Pulpit in the Chiesa del Collegio dei Gesuiti, Trapani.

 

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Modica

Children waiting in the Modica Cathedral.

 

 

The cathedral in Modica.

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Ragusa

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Itria with its restored campanile. Ragusa Ibla viewed from Ragusa Superiore.

 

 

Duomo di San Giorgio (the cathedral), designed by Rosario Gagliardi. Built 1744-1775

 

 

Memento mori. Decoration over the entrance of Chiesa della Maddalena (church of Santa Maria Maddalena), Ragusa, first built in the seventeenth century and later re-built (18th century).

 

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Caccamo

Chiesa dell'Anime del Purgatorio (Church of the Souls of Purgatory), Caccamo.

 

Timeline Church Art in Sicily (to be expanded…)

1564-1633: Casa Professa, Palermo, is the first church to be erected by the Jesuits in Sicily.

1640: The large church of San Domenico in Piazza San Domenico was rebuilt (the facade came 1726)

1693: On 11 January 1693 Sicily was struck by an earthquake destroying more than 70 cities and killing 60.000 people. As a result of the earthquake, whole cities had to be rebuilt.

1695: The Bavarian-baroque facade of the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia (La chiesa di Santa Lucia alla Badia, Siracusa) was made by Luciano Caracciolo.

1726: The imposing facade of church of San Domenico in Piazza San Domenico was made in 1726.

1744-1775: Duomo di San Giorgio (the cathedral in Ragusa), designed by Rosario Gagliardi, was built.

 

 

 

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Related links

• Depictions of Jesus (as Christ Pantocrator) in Sicily
• The Monreale Cathedral
• The Cefalù Cathedral
• Mosaics in Sicily
• Churches in Sicily

Links

• Churches in Agrigento
• Museo Diocesano di Palermo