Culture of Palermo. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

» The relics of Saint Rosalia rest in the cathedral church. She is considered as its intercessor.
»  Tombs of the nobles who contributed much to the development of the Kingdom of Sicily have been preserved in honor of them. At the beginning of the 12th century, the first ruler was crowned in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
»  The construction resembles a castle. The House of God differs from the mundane one with its bell tower and dome. It is distinguished by the combination of different architectural styles. They will let you trace the complicated history of the country. The temple had been built for a very long time (12th-18th centuries).
»  There are a lot of marble statues inside. The most famous one is the statue of the Palermo patroness. In the altar zone, there are a lot of frescoes dating back to the 18th-19th centuries and a mosaic throne (the 12th century). Treasures, such as silver tableware and precious items, are kept in the special place.
»  On the floor of the main hall, you can see a meridian with zodiac signs on it. At 12 o’clock, the sunbeam hits one of the signs, in which the Sun has been throughout the day, through the hole in the dome. The heliometer was placed here in 1690.
»  With the permission of the bishop, Italian astronomer Piazzi made his observations in the cathedral.

Location on the map:   Facts: » The official name of the church is Santa Maria di Gesù or Casa Professa.
»  The religious Society of Jesus was established in the city in the middle of the 16th century. It was decided to build a church for services.
»  Casa Professa means the House of Professes. Professes are the supreme rank of the members of the Society of Jesus.
»  The church is located on the hilltop. The legend says that hermits lived here. There were also underground funeral galleries.
»  The interior is fully decorated with marble and ceramic paintings depicting Biblical scenes. Moldings and frescoes are multicolored. The Church of the Gesu is distinguished by the combination of colorful tiled plates, on which bright patterns are carved. There are also supporting columns with ornaments.
»  Painting specialists have recognized the uniqueness of the interior design.
»  The exterior seems to be divided into two parts. There are three entrance doors at the lower level. On their sides, there are statues of saint benefactors and Madonna holding a baby in her hands in the niches. Vertical ledges of the walls are decorated with pictures of Christian martyrs carved in stone.
»  Under the altar in the basement (crypt), worshipers left their fellows passing away.

» City constructions of the 17th century were located in winding streets. Upon the order of the ruler, the straight street was built. It crossed the octagonal space. The fifth corner was occupied by the church. It was distinguished by an arched and bright dome. It was made of blue and yellow ceramics.
»  Originally, the House of God was kept by carpenters’ workshops. The emblem (the axe with a crown) and the wooden statue of Saint Joseph have been preserved. The top of the statue is covered with a thin metal gilded sheet.
»  In 1603, the temple came to the Order of Theatines. The legend says that they needed the underground under the building. The reconstruction of Chiesa di San Giuseppe dei Teatini lasted 30 years.
»  The monumentality of the church really impresses. Entrance doors are marked by two rows of columns. There is a niche near them. It is decorated with colorful ornaments and angels. In the alcove, there is the statue of one of the founders of the Order of Theatines.
»  The floor inside is marble. The walls are decorated with frescoes.
»  San Giuseppe dei Teatini is famous for its hidden crypt. It has been preserved since ancient times. There is also the source of the healing water in the underground tomb.

» Palazzo dei Normanni (the Norman Palace) with the Palatine Chapel consists of several rooms. It serves as a museum, liturgies are held here, and there are exhibition rooms.
»  Throughout its history, the building had been used for different purposes: it was the place where the Sicilian nobles met and where the legislative body sat. In 1947, the Parliament started to meet here.
»  The exterior of the mansion is characterized by the mixture of cultures on the island. It is connected with the exploration of Sicily.
»  The first shelters belonged to the Phoenicians. Then, Ancient Roman fortifications were constructed here. In the 9th century, Arab conquerors built a palace on the ancient ruins. In the 11th century, the building was “inherited” by Norman regiments invading Italy. Upon the order of the Norman leader, the Mauritanian Palace was rebuilt. It turned into a royal residence. In a few centuries, the residence turned into a Spanish castle. The building was reconstructed again.
»  Paintings of modern artists are displayed in its basements.
»  The building has a total area of about 400 m.

Location on the map:   Facts: » The duplex staircase leads to the inner rooms of the church. There is the statue of Saint Catherine (1685) above the gate.
»  The interior is decorated with a patterned marble. There are also a lot of gilded moldings. Everything - bas-reliefs, sculptures, and panels - is dedicated to great martyr’s life. The dome that crowns the building was constructed in 1744.
»  The church started to be built at the beginning of the 14th century. Aristocratic ladies who own real estates in the city decided to present them to the Order of Saint Dominic. It was planned to build a convent. The monastic church has been opened since 1310. The unprivileged and repentant women of easy virtue were accepted here.
»  Donations to the monastery were generous. The interior of the church was decorated with rich elements at the expense of patrons.
»  Many nobles preferred to live in the monastery like hermits.
»  Monastery abbess Sister Mary, the woman from the Count’s family, started to build the House of God in 1566. After the years of construction (in 1596), the building was blessed in honor of Catherine of Alexandria.