Santa Maria di Monserrato

In 1690, a captivating procession unfolded near the future site of Santa Maria di Monserrato. Led by Archbishop Ferdinando Bazan y Manriquez, the procession aimed to raise funds for the Reclusorio area. This area, reminiscent of the landscape of Christ’s Passion, held deep religious significance. During the procession, seven crosses were planted. One stood before the chapel’s entrance, while the other six adorned the plain. This act marked the beginning of Santa Maria di Monserrato’s story, and forever gave the area its name – Piano delle sette Croci or Plain of the Seven Crosses. Santa Maria di Monserrato, also known as “delle Croci,” started not as a church, but as part of a 16th-century villa. This villa, owned by the Duke of Bivona, Don Pietro Luna, transformed over time. In 1600, it expanded and beautified, even hosting passing viceroys. Years later, in 1853, the opening of Stradone della Libertà spurred further changes. Architect Giovan Battista Filippo Basile added a striking new façade, a blend of Gothic and Norman-Chiaramontano-Catalan styles. This façade, which you see today, features a three-arched loggia of tuff ashlars and a charming bell loggia. Inside Santa Maria di Monserrato, a single nave unfolds, housing three altars within chapels and niches. Look up and admire the frescoes adorning the barrel vault. They depict Our Lady of Sorrows at the foot of the Cross, accompanied by angels, cherubs, and medallions of Saint Augustine, Saint Monica, Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, and Saint Rosalia. The church holds more than just artistic beauty. It also safeguards artifacts. These include a wooden statue of Saint Lucy from the demolished church of Santa Lucia al Borgo, a “vara” (a platform for processions) with the Mater Dolorosa, and a glass case containing the Cristo morto. These sacred objects form the heart of Palermo’s Holy Week processions on Good Friday. Santa Maria di Monserrato’s journey reflects Palermo’s dynamic history, from a villa, a refuge, to the church we stand before today. Its walls whisper stories of plagues, processions, and architectural transformations, each layer contributing to its unique character.