Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Palermo

Last updated
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Palermo) - facciata 2.JPG
Facade of the church
Religion
Affiliation Roman Catholic
Province Archdiocese of Palermo
Rite Roman Rite
Location
LocationPiazza Marina, Palermo, Italy
Italy Sicily location map IT.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Sicily
Italy provincial location map 2016.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Italy
Geographic coordinates 38°07′00″N13°22′07″E / 38.1168°N 13.3687°E / 38.1168; 13.3687 Coordinates: 38°07′00″N13°22′07″E / 38.1168°N 13.3687°E / 38.1168; 13.3687

Santa Maria dei Miracoli (English: Holy Mary of the Miracles is a Renaissance-style, Roman Catholic church located in the quarter of Kalsa (Tribunali) of the historic centre of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. It is located in front of the Giardini Garibaldini and Piazza Marina.

History and decoration

The church was founded in 1543 after a miraculous event linked to a Marian icon. Putatively during the festival of Santa Cristina in May, a Marian icon, painted on a wall near this site, was linked to a number of miracles. [1] The Senate of Palermo granted the land, and a confraternity was established to gather donations for construction of a church. In 1547, under the government of the Spanish viceroy of Sicily, Giovanni della Vega, and the archbishop Pietro Tagliavia d'Aragona, and with added patronage of the Florentine community, the church was completed. In 1629, when the Florentines were expelled from Palermo, the church was granted to the Frati Conventuali of the Franciscan order, who established adjacent a seminary (novitiate) called il Conventino. On the right of the facade, the arch represents the remains a small chapel dedicated to Santa Apollonia.

The Franciscan convent flagged in population, and was suppressed in 1775, [2] and razed after severe damage during World War II. The church was only reconsecrated in 1970. In 2008, the archbishop of Palermo, cardinal Paolo Romeo, assigned the church pastoral duties for the immigrants in Palermo, assigning a cleric from the order of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Due to damage from the 2002 earthquake, the church underwent restoration completed in 2011.

The architect is unknown, although the work has been attributed to either Fazio Gagini or Pasqualino Scaglione. The facade is flat and generally plain with exception of a coat of arms and a small oculus above the portal. The facade has awkwardly sized central columns. The ground floor flanking the portal has two Corinthian columns atop a tall pedestal, surmounted by a small composite pilaster. On the facade, a plaque has the date 1581. The church has a Greek cross layout and leads to a somewhat archaic semi-circular apse with some gothic tracery.

The interior houses a canvas copy of the original Marian icon, a veneration known as the "Madonna delle Grazie of Constantinople", which originally was a fresco painted on a wall. The former marble main altar was completed in the late 19th-century. New decoration has been added in the 21st century, including a new altar in the shape of a boat. The crucifix above the altar was carved in the Congo. The tabernacle by Giuseppe Vitrano, is shaped like a globe. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria Novella</span> Church in Florence, Italy

Santa Maria Novella is a church in Florence, Italy, situated opposite, and lending its name to, the city's main railway station. Chronologically, it is the first great basilica in Florence, and is the city's principal Dominican church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria Maggiore</span> Roman Catholic basilica, a landmark of Rome, Italy

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, or church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is a Major papal basilica as well as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels in Assisi</span> Church in Assisi, Italy

The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels is a papal minor basilica situated in the plain at the foot of the hill of Assisi, Italy, in the frazione of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pisa Cathedral</span> Church in Pisa, Italy

Pisa Cathedral is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy, the oldest of the three structures in the plaza followed by the Pisa Baptistry and the Campanile known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The cathedral is a notable example of Romanesque architecture, in particular the style known as Pisan Romanesque. Consecrated in 1118, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Pisa. Construction began in 1063 and was completed in 1092. Additional enlargements and a new facade were built in the 12th century and the roof was replaced after damage from a fire in 1595.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica della Collegiata</span> Church in Italy

The Ancient Royal and Eminent Basilica Collegiate of Our Lady of the Alms better known as Basilica della Colleggiata is a church in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. Finished in 1794, it is an example of Sicilian Baroque.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria in Provenzano, Siena</span>

Santa Maria in Provenzano, or the Insigne Collegiata di Santa Maria in Provenzano, is a late-Renaissance-Baroque style, Roman Catholic, collegiate church in Piazza Provenzano Salvani, in the Terza Camollia, just southwest of the basilica of San Francesco, in the city of Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. This Marian shrine was built around a 14th-century terracotta icon of the Madonna, which was credited with miracles. The Palio of Siena takes place on the day of veneration of this Marian devotion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctuary of Madonna dei Miracoli</span> Church building in Alcamo, Italy

The Sanctuary of Madonna dei Miracoli is a church in Alcamo, province of Trapani, Sicily, southern Italy; it is dedicated to the Madonna of the Miracles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Fortunato, Todi</span>

San Fortunato is a Gothic- and Renaissance-style, Roman Catholic church located on Piazza Umberto I #6 in the historic center of Todi, province of Perugia, region of Umbria, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francesco d'Assisi, Palermo</span>

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a Gothic-style, Roman Catholic church of Palermo. It is located near a major and ancient street of the city, via Cassaro, in the quarter of the Kalsa, within the historic centre of Palermo. The building represents the main Conventual Franciscan church of Sicily, and has the title of minor basilica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria della Pietà, Palermo</span>

The Church of Saint Mary of Pity is a Baroque church of Palermo. It is located at the corner of Via Alloro and Via Torremuzza in the quarter of the Kalsa, within the historic centre of Palermo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Caterina, Palermo</span>

Santa Caterina d'Alessandria or Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Roman Catholic church with a main facade on Piazza Bellini, and a lateral Western facade facing the elaborate Fontana Pretoria, in the historic quarter of Kalsa in the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. In front of the main facade, across the piazza Bellini, rise the older churches of San Cataldo and Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, while across Piazza Pretoria is the Theatine church of San Giuseppe and the entrance to the Quattro Canti. Refurbished over the centuries, the church retains elements and decorations from the Renaissance, Baroque, and late-Baroque (Rococo) eras. This church is distinct from the Oratorio di Santa Caterina found in the Olivella neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santissimo Salvatore, Palermo</span>

The Church of Most Holy Saviour is a Baroque-style, Roman Catholic church located on #396 of the ancient main street of the Palermo, the Cassaro, presently Via Vittorio Emanuele, in the ancient quarter of the Albergaria of the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sant'Ignazio all'Olivella</span>

The Church of Saint Ignatius is a Baroque church of Palermo. It is located in the ancient neighborhood of the Olivella, in the quarter of the Loggia, within the historic centre of Palermo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Teresa alla Kalsa</span>

The Church of Saint Teresa is a Baroque Roman Catholic church, located on Piazza della Kalsa, facing the Porta de Greci in the ancient quarter of the Kalsa of the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sant'Eulalia dei Catalani</span>

Sant'Eulalia dei Catalani is a deconsecrated church, whose Renaissance facade can still be seen on Via Argenteria #19, at the edge of the lively Vucciria market in ancient quarter of Castellammare in central Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. In a niche in the small piazza in front of the church is a statue of the Genius of Palermo, sculpted by Pietro di Bonitate in 1483, and now called Palermu lu Grandi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria della Catena, Aci Catena</span>

Santa Maria della Catena is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Aci Catena in the region of Sicily, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria delle Grazie di Montevergine</span> Theatre in Palermo, Italy

Santa Maria delle Grazie di Montevergine is a Baroque deconsecrated church of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. It is located on piazetta Montervergini. The church now functions as a theater: Teatro Nuovo Montevergini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Chiara all'Albergaria</span> Church building in Palermo, Italy

Santa Chiara all'Albergaria refers to a church and former monastery located in piazza Santa Chiara, in the quarter of Albergaria in the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. The church is located near the busy outdoor Ballarò marketplace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Nicola da Tolentino, Palermo</span> Church building in Palermo, Italy

San Nicola da Tolentino, or more in non-dialect known as the church Saint Niccolò da Tolentino, is a Roman Catholic church located on via Maqueda #157, between via dei Calderai and via Giardinaccio, at the Southwest border of the quarter of Kalsa (Tribunali) of the historic centre of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madonna dei Rimedi, Palermo</span>

Madonna dei Rimedi is a Baroque-style, Roman Catholic Sanctuary-church, established and still affiliated with the Discalced Carmelite order, located on Piazza Indipendenza # 9, in Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy.

References

  1. Guida istruttiva per Palermo e suoi dintorni by Gaspare Palermo and Girolamo Di Marzo Ferro; Publisher Pietro Pensante, Palermo (1858); page 227.
  2. Opere storiche inedite sulla citta di Palermo, Volume 3; by Gioacchino di Marzo; editor Luigi Perone Lauriel, Palermo, 1873, page 428.
  3. Citta Metropolitana of Palermo, tourism entry.