A peculiar statue greets you. A dog at the feet of a globe a flaming torch putatively in its mouth. This is the Chiesa di Santa Cita in Palermo. Its history is rich and layered like the city itself. Originally dedicated to Saint Zita of Lucca it was founded by Tuscan merchants in the early 14th century. Later it was attached to the Dominican order.
A larger church replaced the original in 1583. Giuseppe Giacalone designed it. Nicolò Peralta finished the facade in 1781. The Chiesa di Santa Cita boasted three side chapels and decorated aisles. World War II bombing devastated it. The church was then rededicated to San Mamiliano Palermo’s first bishop. Today only a single nave remains.
Look closely at the facade. The dog and globe are more than just decoration. They symbolize a legend about a vision St Dominic’s mother had. Dominicans were dogged in their efforts to spread faith. The two flanking reliefs depict Charity and Faith.
Inside the Chiesa di Santa Cita treasures await. A Renaissance-style marble polyptych from 1516 stands out. Antonello Gagini created it along with the sarcophagus of Antonio Scirotta. The Chapel of the Crucifix holds a dark secret. Its crypt contains four sarcophagi and a Pietà attributed to Giorgio da Milano. One sarcophagus holds Cesare Lanza. Another is said to hold Laura Lanza his murdered wife. Legend whispers of a crime of passion in 1563.
Marvel at the altarpieces. Antonio Manno’s depiction of the Blessed Geremia from 1785 is breathtaking. Filippo Paladini’s Saint Agnes of Montepulciano from 1603 is equally captivating. The Madonna del Rosario chapel miraculously survived the war. It’s richly decorated with polychrome marble and stucco tableux. These small dramatic set-pieces depict the Mystery of the Rosary. Pietro Aquila painted the ceiling frescoes. They are framed with elaborate stucco showing the five glorious mysteries of the Rosary.
The Chiesa di Santa Cita is more than just a church. It is a testament to faith resilience and the enduring power of art. It is a survivor a place where history whispers secrets from centuries past. A place where you can almost feel the echoes of prayers and the weight of the past. A truly unforgettable experience.