The
CHURCH OF ST DOMINIC is the second most important church in Palermo
after the cathedral and contains the tombs of many important Sicilian
politicians, painters and poets. Although there has been a church and
monastery here since the C13th, the present building is C16th, when the
old building became too small. Like the Cathedral, the outside is more
impressive than the inside with its double pillars and statues.
A row of columns separates the nave from the side aisles with their small altars.
A small doorway in the north wall leads through into the Cloisters.
There is a charge to enter these, collected by a monk guarding the
entrance.
On a small side street behind St Dominic’s is the ORATORIO DEL ROSARIO
DI SAN DOMINICO which was founded at the end of the C16th by the Knights
of Malta and is still maintained by them. The outside is very
uninspiring but the inside contains some of the best Baroque work in
Palermo, however it did little for me. Again there is a charge to enter.
The black and white marble floor sets off the white walls with their
statues of the Christian virtues, modelled on fashionable
society ladies, by Giacomo Serpotta, interspersed by paintings
representing the mysteries of the Rosary.
Above the altar is the Madonna of the Rosary with St Dominic and the Patronesses of Palermo painted in 1628 by van Dyke.
In the centre of the ceiling is a painting depicting the Coronation of the Virgin.
The CHURCH OF ST MARY OF GESU is one of the most important
Baroque
churches in Palermo. Tucked away in the network of narrow streets and
alleyways between Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda, it is well
worth finding. It was the first church to be built in Sicily by
the Jesuits and dates from the late C16th. The glorious C17th Baroque
interior has been magnificently restored after bomb damage in the Second
World War, which destroyed the dome, surrounding walls and the
paintings in the chancel and transepts.
Unlike the Cathedral and St Dominico’s the facade is relatively
plain. Above the doorway is a statue of the Virgin and Child. On
either side are statues of St Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier,
founding members of the Society of Jesus. At the top is the emblem of
the Jesuits.
Every surface of the inside is covered with marble, stucco reliefs and paintings. It is glorious.
|
