Church of the Commenda in Polizzi Generosa

La Church of the Commenda in Polizzi Generosa, place of prayer and refreshment for i pilgrims going to the Holy Land.

In the early Middle Ages the Church of the Commenda in Polizzi Generosa it is the richest building in the priory of Messina, paintings and sacred furnishings are of great value and it is one of the reference points of Christianity since the Order of Malta provides assistance to pilgrims who go to the Holy Land. Today the building is abandoned but still conveys the charm of an ancient era.

The history of Polizzi Generosa and the Church of the Commenda

Polizzi Generosa it's a village in the province of Palermo which is located in the Madonie Park. The site becomes a stable urban center with the Byzantine domination and in 882 with the Arab domination it becomes a very prosperous country for trade. The Saracens were defeated in 1082 and the Polizzani became part of the kingdom of Roger I. A century later in 1177 Roger of Aquila had the Church of the Commenda built a little outside the city center and on a high point overlooking the valley

THEbuilding is the richest in the priory of Messina and it's headquarters of the Order of Malta, a Christian chivalric religious order entrusted with the care and defense of pilgrims heading to the Holy Land. In the period of the Crusades the Church of the Commenda possessed houses, feuds and even mills and represented a point of reference for Christianity for the shelter and assistance of pilgrims. In the following years the town became a fiefdom of the most important families of Sicily until the plague epidemic of the 500th century which decimated the population and created a great exodus towards other urban centres.

The architecture of the Church of the Commenda and its ancient furnishings

The Church of the Commandery is today a ruin. The structure retains a still intact bell tower and its architectural structure is clearly visible and can be visited. The building is the typical early medieval church with simple and essential lines and the religious considered defenders of Christianity for years, receive many donations from the most influential Sicilian families therefore the Commenda is known for its riches and for the monstrances and silver chalices . At the beginning of the 400th century, the Order of the Knights of Malta left the Church and transferred the sacred furnishings to the other branches of the Order. Slowly the Commandery is covered by climbing plants and today it is in a state of abandonment, but still manages to evoke themedieval atmosphere, intrigues and religious wars fought for the conquest of the Holy Land.

What to see in Polizzi Generosa and its surroundings

Polizzi Generosa is full of sacred buildings that recall the role of the Church of Rome in the country. In fact, for years the village was the seat of an Inquisition court ruled by the Dominicans and many religious orders had convents and churches built.
Today Church of Santa Maria Assunta it is the main place of worship in Polizzi Generosa and rises in the upper part of the historical centre. Its first structure dates back to the Norman era but has been remodeled several times over the years. The church has three naves divided by pillars decorated with capitals and surmounted by pointed arches. Inside, visitors can admire the triptych representing the Virgin with the Child on her knees, the angels and to the sides Santa Caterina d'Alessandria and Santa Barbara. The work is from 1498 and is located in the left transept. The Church holds various silverware by Gagini and also many important canvases such as the 1616 painting by Giuseppe Salerno representing the Nativity of the Lord and the Triumph of the Eucharist commissioned by the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament.
Among the streets of the town are also found the homes of the most influential Sicilian families of the sixteenth century, such as Gagliardo Palace, a sixteenth-century stately home which has a portal full of decorations made of Sicilian sandstone. Just outside the village there is the Madonie Park, a protected natural area where the trekking enthusiasts e walks they can discover the flora and fauna of the area accompanied by guides.

How to get to the Church of the Commenda in Polizzi Generosa

The Church of the Commenda in Polizzi Generosa is located in the San Peri district in Giovan Battista Caruso square. From Palermo take the E90 from via Roma and continue for 43km until the Scillato exit. Take the SS643 in the direction of the Chiesa della Commenda.