Did you know that the statue of San Gaetano wasn’t always where it stands today near Via Brancaccio? Prepare to step back in time and uncover the captivating story of the Chiesa di San Gaetano in Palermo. This church is closely tied to the history of the Theatines. They left indelible marks on Palermo’s architectural heritage.
Theatines arrived in Palermo in 1601. They were granted the Church of Santa Maria della Catena. The Senate provided them with financial support. Two years later their numbers grew significantly. They searched for a new location. They found it in the house and church of the Confraternity of S. Giuseppe dei Falegnami. This was once known as the Church of S. Elia at the Porta Giudica. They transformed it into an oratory dedicated to S. Giuseppe.
In 1612 work began on the nearby Baroque Church of San Giuseppe. It finished in 1645. The Theatines settled near Via Maqueda. However the statue of San Gaetano is at the intersection of Via Brancaccio and Via Conte Federico. Why is that?
The statue was created in 1730 by Giacomo Pennino. The religious figures paid for it. The pedestal’s story is complex. The Theatines were granted the pedestal because it was no longer in use. Its origins were not religious.
From 1701 it supported a statue of Philip V. It stood in front of the Customs gate which no longer exists. It was near the Church of the Chain. In 1720 the Austrian rulers removed the statue of the Spanish king. It was stored in the Mint warehouses. The Theatines received the base in 1730.
The statue of San Gaetano and its pedestal originally stood at the corner of Via Maqueda and Via dell’Università. This was once Piazzetta S. Gaetano. An aedicule still exists there commemorating the location’s old name.
In 1867 the mayor Marchese Antonio Starrabba di Rudinì had the statue removed. He claimed it obstructed traffic. Carriages could not pass easily. It was stored in the National Museum’s depots for 25 years.
The monument’s current location is near the parish dedicated to the saint. Blessed Don Pino Puglisi served there for many years. The monument was recently restored. San Gaetano’s feast day is celebrated on August 7. The church and the story of San Gaetano stand as testaments to Palermo’s rich religious and artistic history. This area embodies faith community and artistic expression.