Mother Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Pietraperzia
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The current Mother Church in Pietraperzia it is among the largest churches in the area, in the Diocese of Piazza Armerina, which extends up to Agrigento, counting as many as 12 Municipalities.
The Church in Pietraperzia was built in 1712 on a site on which the Norman Church of Pietraperzia stood up until the XNUMXth century. The works for the construction of the Mother Church they were interrupted in 1842, so that the bell towers and the portico in front of the Church were never added.
The works of sacred art present in the Church are the result of the work of Sicilian artists, such as Antonio Dell'Orto and Giuseppe Gianforme, while from an architectural point of view, the remains of the previous XNUMXth century Church and the crypt tell the ecclesiastical history of Pietraperzia.
The architecture of the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Pietraperzia and the works it houses
Without the portico and the two bell towers foreseen by the original project, the Mother Church in Pietraperzia it is a building designed by the Sicilian architect Don Pietro Trombetta.
The main facade of the Church in Pietraperzia it is divided into two orders and covered in bricks. In the first order we find three doors, of which the central one is the largest. In the second order we find instead a semicircular window and the tympanum, dominated by the cross. Externally the Church is simple, but the beauties it holds inside are numerous.
The Church has a Latin cross plan and upon entering you can see the three naves, surmounted by circular vaults. The chapels open onto the side aisles, with beautiful rooms decorated in stucco.
Among the works to be admired in the Church in Pietraperzia, we point out the altarpiece with the Coronation of the Madonna by Paladini, which is located behind the High Altar, but everywhere in the Church there are valuable works to be discovered; moreover, the remains of Pietro and Laura Barresi, lords of the area and of the vice queen of Naples, Dorotea Barresi, are kept here.
What to do at the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Pietraperzia and in the surrounding area
Entering the Church for a prayer or a moment of recollection can be an excellent idea even on vacation and afterwards dedicate yourself to discovering all the works of art that are kept in the Matrix of Pietraperzia. In the village, you can organize your stay to discover this enchanting village and all the other beauties of the area.
Il historic center of Pietraperzia welcomes you with many monuments and historic buildings to see: in addition to the Mother Church, you will find the Palazzo Comunale, which is located in a beautiful sixteenth-century building, formerly the seat of a Dominican convent; reaching Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, you will find yourself in front of the Regina Margherita Municipal Theatre, another building not to be missed, if you are visiting the village. Among the sacred buildings in the centre, the Cave Church, near the Mother Church and the Church of San Domenico and del Rosario, built in the XNUMXth century by the will of the Barresi family.
Al patron saint is dedicated the Church of San Rocco, while not far from the centre, in the countryside, you will find the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Cava, perfect destination for a tour around the town.
If you want to get away a little further, with only 30 km you will be in Piazza Armerina, seat of the Diocese and numerous beautiful churches, from the Cathedral to the Church of Santo Stefano; between ancient palaces, castles and archaeological sites.
If you prefer to visit a city near the sea, in about an hour's journey you will reach Agrigento and the beaches between Porto Empedocle and San Leone, to visit a city of art and at the same time relax by the sea.
How to get to the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Pietraperzia
Pietraperzia, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, can be easily reached by car or train.
Who travels by car, from the A19 Palermo-Catania you will arrive in the center quickly from the exit for Caltanissetta, which is only 14 km from the town; on the train, Caltanissetta Central Station, served by buses and shuttles, is only 10 km away.
